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GOLF EUROPEAN TOUR: THE IRISH OPEN'S return to Baltray on May 14th-17th next after a five-year break, confirmed yesterday by the PGA European Tour, has created a major headache for the Irish Ladies Golf Union who were scheduled to play their national championship over the Co Louth links that same week.

Now, the ILGU - whose Lancome Women's Irish Close was originally pencilled in for May 16th-20th - must secure a new venue at very short notice. However, taking the bigger picture viewpoint, ILGU official Denise McCarthy admitted the union was in the process of looking for another course "preferably staying on the east coast" but recognised the decision to hold the Irish Open on the links was "for the betterment of golf."