Des Smyth, winner of the Madeira Open last week, returns to competitive golf on Thursday when he heads the field in the final outing of the Links Golfing Society winter programme sponsored by Eircell at Royal Dublin.

Smyth, the president of the society, will be battling for one of the overall prizes with Peter Lawrie. Lawrie leads the professional gross at three under for 36 holes and two over for 54 holes, with Smyth just a shot behind in both categories.

Local one handicapper John Hutchinson is the leader in the amateur gross and nett categories. At two under par for 54 holes and three under for 36 he looks sure to hold off his nearest challengers, Jody Fanagan (Milltown) and Noel Fox (Portmarnock) for the gross prize, and he has four shots to spare over the field in the amateur nett.

Alan Walton (The Island) leads in the team event. At 24 under par, Walton is one shot ahead of Pat Smyth, Jody Fanagan and Des McKenna.