ARNOLD PALMER is on the trail of some of Ireland's elite amateur golfers who must be attending University to be eligible for selection to face the United States in a Ryder Cup style match to be staged at the famous Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida, on July 10th-12th.

The American golfing legend has personally established the competition, aptly enough for a specially commissioned piece of silverware called The Palmer Cup, which will be contested annually by student golfers from the US against a British and Irish selection.

Unfortunately, the inaugural staging of the event clashes directly with the North of Ireland Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush which could rule out a number of possible Irish players for the team.

However2 Greg Jones, of the British Universities Sports Association, who is organising the British and Irish team, said. "I'd love a strong Irish representation, especially considering Palmer's direct involvement. I'm well aware of the strength of student golf in Ireland and this event has the potential to be of a higher standard than the World Universities Championships.

Among the Irish players in the running are American based students Keith Nolan, who is considered a strong contender for Walker Cup representative honours at Quaker Ridge, New York, in August, and Richie Coughlan while Jones also intends to inquire about Irish Close champion Peter Lawrie, a student at UCD. Johnny Foster, Hilary Arm strong, Rory Leonard and David Dunne are other possibilities on his short list.

The costs for the event are being met by the Arnold Palmer Golf Company. The format is: Day One Morning. four fourball matches afternoon four foursomes matches. Day Two eight singles matches. Day Three eight singles matches.