Clontarf member Jack McGuinness is all set to defend the Lord Mayor's Cup over his home course next week. The tournament, sponsored by AIB, was first held in 1951 and is one of the most popular on the Leinster calendar.

Once again a full timesheet is expected for Sunday's qualifying round. Competitors must have single figure handicaps and the 18-hole strokeplay qualifying is off scratch, with the top 64 making it through to the matchplay which will conclude with the semi-finals and final on Saturday week. The tournament was the brainchild of the late Lord Mayor, Jack Belton, who served as both Captain and President of Clontarf. Philip Walton and Martin Sludds endeavoured to win the trophy in their amateur days, and current Castle professional David Kinsella did triumph as a raw teenager back in 1964.