IRISH OPEN: Ben Curtis, who defends his British Open title at Royal Troon next week, has confirmed he will participate in the Nissan Irish Open at Baltray on July 22nd-25th, reports Philip Reid. The American, now ranked 41st in the world rankings, will be making his debut in the championship.
Curtis's inclusion in the field is a significant boost for a tournament that this year carries 1.9 million in prize money and which has also attracted a number of other US Tour-based players, including England's Luke Donald, Jasper Parnevik, and Peter Lonard, ranked 48th in the world.
Not surprising, the highest ranked players in the field - entries closed on Thursday night - are both Irish, Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke who are ranked eighth and 15th respectively in the world. Other players in the world's top-50 who have entered are Miguel Angel Jimenez, Trevor Immelman and Thomas Bjorn.
US TOUR: Vaughn Taylor on 132 after a 69 set the clubhouse target in the John Deere Classic in Illinois.
Of the other early finishers Stewart Cink is on 135 after a 65 and Vijay Singh on 136 after a 67
NATIONWIDE TOUR: Richie Coughlan is seven shots off the pace after a second 70 at Troy Burne GC, Hudson. Brendon de Jonge leads on 133 after a 64 while Keith Nolan was four over after eight holes.
CHAMPIONS TOUR: Gary McCord shot an eight-under 64 to join Jose Maria Canizares at the top of the leaderboard in the Players Championship in Michigan.
The pair, at 10 under par 135, lead by one from Dana Quigley, Gil Morgan and Mark James. Eamonn Darcy is five back on 140 after a second round of 70.
CHALLENGE TOUR: Gary Emerson of England takes a one shot lead into the third round of the Open des Volcans Challenge de France after a second round 68.
Emerson, on one under par 141, leads from Richard Bland, Johan Axgren, Neil Cheetham, John Mellor and Greg Bourdy of France.
Michael Hoey is on 150 while Stephen Browne and Gary McNeill missed the cut.
SENIORS TOUR: America's David Oakley put aside the disappointment of finishing second last week to take the first round lead, along with Australian Bob Shearer, in the Nigel Mansell Sunseeker International Classic at Woodbury Park.
They fired five under par 67s to lead by a stroke from defending champion Mike Miller, John Morgan, Noel Ratcliffe, Hank Woodrome and Alan Mew. Denis O'Sullivan and Eddie Poland are on two-under-par 70.
EUROPEAN YOUTHS: Scotland will face the 'Auld Enemy' England in the title match for the European Youths' Team Championship after pulling off a Houdini-style escape at The Island yesterday.
Trailing the highly fancied Spanish side 2-0 after the morning foursomes matches, the Scots dug deep in the afternoon to win four of the five singles and clinch a memorable 4-3 victory.
One up with two to play against Alejandro Cañizares in the deciding match, Scott Jamieson played a searing six-iron approach to the 17th green that finished just four feet away and then holed his birdie putt for a two and one victory and the match.
England beat Germany by 4½ to 2½, having built a 2-0 lead after the foursomes that included a hole-in-one by Matthew Richardson at the 153-yard ninth.
Playing in perfect weather at the beautifully manicured links, Ireland recovered from the disappointment of failing to make the first flight with a 3-2 win over the Netherlands.
EUROPEAN BOYS: England will face Spain in the final of the Boys' championship after beating Belgium 7-0 while Spain were also impressive in beating Italy 6-1. Ireland will play-off for eighth/ninth place with Sweden after losing 3-2 to the Netherlands.
WOMEN'S UNDER-21s: Wales caused a major shock yesterday when they beat England 4-3 in the semi-final at Royal Cinque Ports and now face Spain, 4-3 winners over Sweden, in today's final.
Ireland beat the Netherlands 3½-1½ and now meet Germany in the play-off for fifth and sixth places.
