WHILE the prize money involved in staging a major senior open seems to remain beyond the means of Irish at present, heavy backing from Dunlop means this weekend's Irish Junior Open has quickly risen to be the richest event of the European Tour.
Competitors from 10 countries will battle it out for the prizes in the event which boasts impressive entries at all levels but commands most attention at under 19 where top local players Anna McGeever and Patrick Foster will have a rare opportunity to take on some of the best players from the circuit in home surroundings.
McGeever, who has pulled oft quite a few shocks against highly ranked opponents from overseas in the past, proved her form last weekend when she beat Irish senior number two Louise Finnegan at the All Ireland Club Championships. She is likely to relish the challenge of a field that, in addition to Ulster's Madeline Perry, includes England's highly promising Janie Thacker and last year's junior European number one Kim Hannes of Belgium.
Leading Scots player Laura Hamilton also travels to Dublin for the event while, as well as Thacker, an impressive delegation from England includes internationals Nicky Sullivan and Vicky Botwright.
In the boys' competition, defending champion Lee Beach ill returns to Fitzwilliam to face some stiff opposition from Swedish number one Johan Jungling and top Italian junior Davide Bianchetti, who have between them already won the French, Spanish and Czech Opens in recent months. Given the improved strength of the line up, Foster will do very well indeed to capture the runners-up spot for a second year running.
Of a more domestic nature, meanwhile, is the Leinster Close Championships, details of which were unveiled this week by host club Sutton.
Like this week's Junior Open, the Sutton event has enjoyed a spectacular growth in recent years. The fourth time it has been staged and first occasion it has been backed by the EBS, the entry is expected to surpass the 112 achieved 12 months ago.
The tournament is compulsory for those players hoping to make Leinster's side for the interprovincial championships in Cork with the result that most of the best Dublin based players will be in action. With Chris Collins out through injury, Sutton's Eoin Ryan is likely to start as top seed in the men's event having finished as runner up for the last three years.
