Newly-crowned Irish Amateur Close champion, Graeme McDowell (pictured left) is one of six Irish players selected to play in the European Individual Championships at the Styrian golf club, Murhof, Austria, from August 9th to 12th. McDowell will be joined by the Amateur Open and East of Ireland title holder Noel Fox (Portmarnock), West of Ireland champion Eamonn Brady (Royal Dublin), Michael Hoey (Shandon Park), Andrew McCormick (Scrabo) and Ciaran McMonagle (Dunfanaghy).

Meanwhile, McDowell will start a hot favourite to lift his third title of the year when the Canon-sponsored Irish Youths Amateur Open Championship tees-off at Malone on Thursday.

The Irish youths team had to settle for a share of the spoils at four-and-a-half points each in the annual international with Scotland at Newmacher last week. In the deciding match Mark Campbell was level playing the last against Mark Warren and needing a half for overall victory. However, Warren holed a massive 100 foot putt for an unlikely birdie and a one-hole win.