Keith Nolan (Bray) and Richard Coughlan (Birr), Ireland's two representatives on the Walker Cup team have, on the request of the selection committee, withdrawn their entries from the South of

Ireland Championship which begins at Lahinch on Saturday.

The reason given was the tight travel schedule which sees the team due to assemble at London Airport on Thursday week, the day after the final at Lahinch.

A record entry of 265 for the 96th South was reduced to 192. Lower handicap players get a bye into the second round on Sunday. The entry includes 13 of the Irish international panel, including the holder

Adrian Morrow (Portmarnock) and the Irish Close champion Michael

McGinley (Grange).

Because of the quality of the entry, four players on 3.0 handicap were ballotted out onto the standby list. There are four players on handicaps of 1.0 who have to play in the first round on Saturday.