SENIORS TOUR: Des Smyth made a solid start to the €730,000 Firstplus Wales Seniors Open at the Vale Hotel, Golf and Spa, as he targets his first Seniors title on European soil.

For much of the morning the 53-year-old led the strong field, but two late stumbles saw him sign for a level par round of 72, three strokes behind leader David J Russell of England.

Denis O'Sullivan and Eamonn Darcy opened their accounts in Cardiff with rounds of 74, as did Scotland's Sam Torrance on a day when five players broke par.

EUROPEAN TOUR: Sweden's Henrik Nystrom carded a six-under-par round of 65 to take a two-stroke lead on eight-under-par 134 in the Aa St Omer Open in northern France.

Lancashire golfer Paul Dwyer, who lost in a play-off at this course 12 months ago, is in a tie for second place on six under after he shot a 66.

Colm Moriarty (147) and Stephen Browne (158) missed the cut which came at 145.

AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP: Tricia Mangan's brave bid to become the first Irish winner of the Women's British Amateur Championship for 21 years ended in disappointment at Royal County Down last night when she slipped to a last-green quarter-final defeat.

The 32-year-old from the Ennis club went down by two holes to Yorkshire's Naomi Edwards, who has enjoyed considerable success this season.

Maura Morrin, from the Curragh, found Spaniard Maria Hernandez too hot to to handle in the third round and went out 2 and 1.

CHALLENGE TOUR: A second round of five-under-par 67 gave Sweden's Raimo Sjöberg the lead on 135 at the halfway stage of the Lexus Open in Norway, one stroke clear of Dane Peter Ankersoe and two ahead of home hope Lars Brovold.

LET TOUR: European number one Gwladys Nocera from France posted a blistering seven-under-par 65 for 14-under-par 202 on the third day of the BMW Women's Italian Open to take a three-shot lead over Sophie Giquel heading into today's final round.

Rebecca Coakley is in a tie for 17th place after a third round 70 left her on four-under-par 212.