COULD the Irish selectors opt for an all-Leinster sextet to represent the country in the European Team Championships at Portmarnock later this month? That is the question currently occupying many golfing minds on the domestic scene - and decision time is almost at hand. Indeed, the Irish Amateur Open at Fota Island on Thursday and Friday represents the final opportunity for potential team members to make an impression.
Given the quality of the winners since this 72-holes strokeplay championship was restored to the calendar after a 36-year gap in 1995 Padraig Harrington won the first staging and Keith Nolan won last year - it is not surprising that the Irish selectors have decided to wait until after this event to formalise the six-man team for Portmarnock. Another indication of its stature is that the Walker Cup selectors will also be present to appraise the form of potential Irish members of that team for the defence of the trophy at Quaker Ridge, New York, on August 9th-10th.
Of most immediate concern, though, is the formation of the Irish team. Walker Cup player Jody Fanagan, winner of the West of Ireland at Easter, Irish Close champion Peter Lawrie, and US-based scholarship students Keith Nolan and Richard Coughlan would appear to be the front runners for inclusion, while other Leinster players pursuing a place include Bryan Omelia, Noel Fox, Adrian Morrow and Michael McGinley.
Who are the players most likely to prevent an all-Leinster team? Well, Garth McGimpsey's experience can't be bought and his runner-up placing at the East of Ireland is testimony to his competitiveness, while John Morris, Pat Murray and Ken Kearney are other possibilities.
The answers won't be provided until after the Fota Island tournament, however, and the only certainty is that some people will he disappointed.
Nevertheless, the Irish Open represents a double-edged opportunity for most of the big guns; not alone can they copper-fasten selection to the team, but the prospect of winning an event which has quickly earned a high status is incentive enough alone.
Meanwhile, the Waterford Crystal Scratch Cup at Waterford on Saturday and Sunday has benefited from the proximity - in dates and location - of the Irish Amateur strokeplay and among those heading on from the Cork course will be Nolan, Coughlan and Lawrie.
Tommy Doyle experienced a sense of deja vu when he recorded his first ever hole-in-one in the Open Fourball competition at Baltinglass on Sunday .. . another member had performed a similar feat a short time earlier!
Doyle hit an eight iron tee-shot to the 153 yards par three third hole at the Co Wicklow course. I wasn't playing particularly well up to then," he admitted. "I'd heard that someone else had had a hole-in-one but, given the way I was playing, I didn't dream I would have one too."
That someone else was Trevor Herron who also aced the same hole ... and the two gentlemen are hoping their run of form will at least continue into Fabian Doyle's Captain's Prize qualifying this weekend.
