BRITISH OPEN QUALIFYING:Ireland's Philip Walton rolled back the years to book his place at next week's British Open at Royal Birkdale after winning the Local Final Qualifying at West Lancashire Golf Club yesterday.
Walton has been without a European Tour card for several years and plays mainly on the Irish PGA circuit these days. However, this lack of top flight competition didn't stop the 1995 Ryder Cup hero achieving what Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Rory McIlroy have so far failed to do in qualifying for the third major of the year.
The 46-year-old shot rounds of 72 and 70 at West Lancashire, one of three qualifying venues where four places at each were available. Walton's two-under par 142 aggregate saw the Dubliner lead the qualifying by three shots from Scotland's Barry Hume.
"This is one great course, the best links I've played. They still talk to me about the Ryder Cup in Ireland, but it's a long time ago and I'm looking forward to next week," said Walton before rushing to catch a flight home in time to tee it up in today's Irish PGA Championship at The European Club. The last time Walton played in the Open was in 1998, which is the last time it was played at Royal Birkdale. A decade ago he finished tied 38th behind the winner Mark O'Meara.
Walton was the only player from 12 Irish hopefuls at local qualifying to earn his place in the Birkdale field. Peter O'Keeffe, Noel Fox , Daniel Sugrue and Mark O'Sullivan all fell short at the same venue as Walton.
At Southport Ainsdale the Waterville duo of David Higgins and Mark Murphy missed out on the play-off by one shot. Higgins shot two level par 72s, while Murphy was left to rue yesterday's 74 after an opening 70.
Tim Rice and Justin Kehoe finished four and six-over respectively at Southport where amateur Tom Sherreard topped the qualifying on three-under with rounds of 72, 69.
At Hillside Golf Club there was another veteran feel-good story as Jean Van de Velde booked his Open slot with rounds of 70 and 73. The Frenchman, remembered for his closing triple bogey on his way to losing the 1999 Open at Carnoustie, tied second on one-under 143, three shots behind England's Jamie Elson. Ballyliffin's Brendan McCarroll, amateur David Rawluk from the Island and Skellig Bay's Mark Heinmann missed out.
IRISH PGA PRO-AM:Dundalk professional Leslie Walker posted a warning at The European Club yesterday that he could be a contender for Padráig Harrington's Irish Championship crown over the next four days. Walker carded a one-under-par 70, two shots better than Harrington with last year's championship runner-up Brendan McGovern, former champion David Mortimer and Eddie Tracey all on 71. Irish Club Professionals' champion John Kelly led in the winning team on 87 points. The amateurs were Michael Stanley (5), Tim O'Driscoll (10) and Fergal Scofield (15). Ironically, Kelly handed in a personal NR.
WOMEN'S EUROPEAN TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP:Ireland will need to produce a touch of magic today if they to move into the top matchplay flight in Sweden. The Irish are in joint 12th position with a first day total of 19-over par 379, some 10 away from safety.
Former Curtis Cup player Tara Delaney produced the best Irish performance, a one-over par 73 but she was disappointed with bogeys at the fifth and sixth and at her failure to get up and down at the 15th. Maura Morrin, who returned a 75, said: "I played well but did not hole anything."
Dawn Marie Conaty's double bogey six at the 16th and a bogey at the last spoiled an otherwise respectable round - she finished with a 76. Curtis Cup reserve Danielle McVeigh finished with a couple of bogeys for her 77, while Gillian O'Leary did not have a birdie in her 78. Niamh Kitching lost a ball after a frightful drive off the last and took a nine. Her 79 was discarded.
Spain are leading with a 353 total, one ahead of England.
GIRLS EUROPEAN TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP:Ireland were faring much better in Murcar, Aberdeen yesterday, lying in joint fifth place on 222 - six over par. Thirteen-year-old Irish champion Leona Maguire, with a 73, led the way. Her twin sister Lisa took 75, while Victoria Bradshaw had 74 and Sarah Cunningham 76.
Switzerland, Sweden and Germany were the pacesetters, with Ireland and England the best of the home countries.
BOYS EUROPEAN TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP:There was no play at Bled in Slovenia yesterday because of thunder and lightning but the forecast for today is good and it has been decided there will only be one strokeplay round.
