Christy O'Connor Jnr got off to a sparkling start in the first round of the US Seniors Open at Saucon Valley yesterday. His three-under-par 68 left him in joint eighth place, four shots behind leader Bruce Fleisher, who won the Irish Senior Open last month at Tulfarris. Hubert Green was a shot further back on six under, while Jack Nicklaus reminded the tour stalwarts that he hasn't gone away after a 67 to share fourth spot.

Women's British Amateur: Still exhausted after the Curtis Cup match, Suzanne O'Brien struggled into the knockout phase of the Women's British Open Amateur Golf Championship at Walton Heath in Surrey yesterday. The 33-year-old Irish Championship runner-up from Milltown posted a second round 77 - three-over-par for a 36-hole total of 157 which took her through with two strokes to spare.

Irish Youths: Newly-crowned Irish Close Champion Graeme McDowell served notice at Malone yesterday that he has no intentions of handing over his Irish Youths Close Championship crown. The Rathmore 20-year-old fired a double two-under-par 69 to leap into the lead at the halfway stage. The competition will be completed today with a further 36 holes.