Hume eyes the big stage

Jack Hume sets out at Royal Portrush today in the 119th Amateur Championship determined to continue his summer of consistency and book his place in the St Andrews Trophy team to take on the Continent of Europe later in the year.

The 20-year-old from Naas won the West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point in April, then came sixth in the Irish Amateur at Royal Dublin and finished runner-up in the Scottish Open strokeplay Championship at Panmure.

Now he is moving onto the biggest stage of all and wants to impress so that both the Great Britain and Ireland selectors and the Irish officials take note, especially in this Eisenhower Trophy year.

Hume lines up in the first strokeplay qualifying round with fellow Irishman Gareth Lappin and Scotland’s Conor Syme — and then the trio move to nearby Portstewart tomorrow to complete their qualifying test.

The contingent from Ireland is weakened in number by appearances in the Irish Open later in the week at Fota Island.

Gavin Moynihan, the winner of the recent Scottish Open stroke-play championship together with Gary Hurley, Robert Cannonand Dermot McElroy have all bee invited to rub shoulders with the professionals in the Irish Open.

Cormac Sharvin is the first Irishman to tee off at Portrush while Geoff Lenehan and Eugene Smith are among others at Portrush today.

After 36 holes strokeplay the top 36 go forward to the knock-out stages ending in the final on Saturday.