Lenehan seeks to impress Ireland selectors

Munster interprovincial Geoff Lenehan has no qualms about lifting what could cynically be termed an asterisk AIG Irish Amateur Close Championship at Seapoint Golf Links.

The action tees off with the first of two strokeplay qualifying rounds at the superb Co Louth links today, with the top 64 making Monday’s first round of matchplay combat with high hopes of progressing to Wednesday’s final.

This year, it’s a draw with a difference and that’s not because just 143 players are teeing it up instead of 144 (there were so many withdrawals that the GUI exhausted its list of reserves and does not take non-entrants) but because 11 of Ireland’s top-20 world-ranked players are competing in the clashing (and highly prestigious) St Andrews Links Trophy at the Home of Golf.