South of Ireland Amateur Open still struggling to attract leading contenders

Lahinch Golf Club and the Munster Branch do fantastic work for Irish golf but while they are grateful to the GUI for rescheduling the Interpros and Irish Close to make it easier for our top players to head to Clare for next month’s South of Ireland Amateur Open, the measures don’t appear to have worked.

On paper, it’s the last major opportunity for our leading amateurs to impress selectors before the Home Internationals are held at Royal Portrush in August.

But the reality is it’s likely that many of our top internationals will be taking the week off again this year with current Irish Open Strokeplay and Irish Close champions, Gavin Moynihan and John Ross Galbraith respectively, certain to miss after another hectic spell.