Despite a last-minute reprieve from the Department of Agriculture, Seamus McParland will not be competing in the Standard Life West of Ireland Championship which starts this morning with the first round of strokeplay qualifying at Rosses Point. The Greenore player had made alternative arrangements after being removed from the draw last week.

"When I informed Seamus that foot-and-mouth restrictions were being relaxed in his particular case, he was delighted at the prospect of playing," said Connacht Branch secretary, Enda Lonergan yesterday. "We would have made him first reserve, or included him in an additional three-ball at the end of the field."

Lonergan added: "Having considered the matter, however, Seamus later said he would be unable to travel because of family commitments. As things turned out, we would have had no problem in accommodating him insofar as there have been three withdrawals since I spoke with him."

So McParland, who has indicated his determination to return to the "West" next year, has become the only casualty this weekend of the foot-and-mouth outbreak in his area of north Louth. All of which is a matter of some relief to the organisers who had reason to be extremely anxious a few weeks ago.

Now under new sponsorship, the championship has attracted a fine entry in a field of 144 competitors. And some notable older hands are Barry Reddan, Adrian Morrow, Tony Hayes, Colin Glasgow and Garth McGimpsey. Further down the age scale is the formidable Ken Kearney.

There was a time when fun was as much an ingredient of this weekend as the competitive nature of the event. Indeed the essence of the "West" was captured beautifully by Kilkenny golfer, J D Murphy (Gary's father), who said of his annual pilgrimage to Rosses Point: "We come here thinking we're Jack Nicklaus and go home like Matt Talbot."

Current title aspirants will be keenly aware, however, that socialising must be kept to a minimum, given the presence of Walker Cup squad members Noel Fox, Michael Hoey and Tim Rice. Graeme McDowell, Ireland's fourth candidate in that group, is at university in the US.

Last year's event was notable for the fact that it marked a return of the championship to its spiritual home, after three successive stagings at Enniscrone from 1997 to 1999 due to the poor condition of the Co Sligo greens. There was no indication of such problems as competitors finalised their preparations yesterday.

Not only are the greens in remarkably good condition for the time of year; the overall presentation of the links does credit to the head greenkeeper, George Paterson. From a time when it had an unkempt look about it, the Harry Colt creation is now admirably tidy, while the fairways show the benefit of winter care, much as the use of protective mats may have irritated the members.

There will be a new champion next Tuesday. Eamonn Brady, who captured the title for a second time last year when he beat Waterville's Mark Murphy by 4 and 3 in the final, has since turned professional.

It will be recalled that Murphy beat Chris Moriarty of Clandeboye in the first semi-final before Brady won through on the 18th against McGimpsey. Murphy, who later lost to Fox in a play-off for the East of Ireland title, is back in action. But it is especially gratifying to note yet another challenge from McGimpsey, who lost to Glasgow in the final in 1983 before returning the following year to capture the first of four titles.

Interestingly, Murphy survived on the qualifying limit of 157 last year when the best round was a 67 from leading qualifier Ciaran McMonagle of Dunfanaghy. As usual, when strokeplay is completed tomorrow evening, the top 64 competitors will advance to the matchplay stage on Sunday.