GOLF DIGEST: Darren Nolan, the leading qualifier from Delany, continues solid form at Lisburn and is two matches away from a first win of the Ulster Boys' Amateur Open championship.
The 18-year-old kept this cool to beat Andy Gribben of Shandon Park by one hole in the third round, and disposed of Ross Dunne of Charlesland by 3 and 1 in the quarter-finals.
Dunne, an 18-year-old three handicapper, won 10 and 11 in par, and the 12th in birdie four. Nolan steadied the ship with a winning par four at the 15th, to regain a two-hole advantage and set up a semi-final showdown against Portmarnock 17-year-old Geoff Lenehan.
Three-handicapper Lenehan beat club colleague Stephen Mahoney by 3 and 2 in the third round, and Rory McLarnon of Fortwilliam by 5 and 3.
Barry Fennelly, a 17-year-old with a blood connection to the famous Kilkenny hurling dynasty, defeated David Weldon of The Island by 3 and 2, and then had a 5 and 3 quarter-final result against Ross Melody of Stackstown. Fennelly meets Garth Boyd of Donaghadee for a place in the decider.
EUROPEAN TOUR: The first day's play in the Deutsche Bank Championship in Hamburg was washed out yesterday. Heavy rain on Wednesday night and yesterday morning left the Gut Kaden course under water.
Tournament director David Probyn said the plan is to play the first round today, the second tomorrow, then make the halfway cut for the top 50 players and ties rather than the usual 70. The final 36 holes would then take place on Sunday.
WOMEN'S TOUR: England's Laura Davies stayed on the trail of the leaders after a second round 70 in the Evian Masters in France yesterday - but it was world number one Annika Sorenstam who launched the main European attack on American youngsters Paula Creamer and Christina Kim.
Creamer and Kim shot second successive rounds of 68 for eight under 136 and led by two from Sorenstam, who had a 66. Davies stands on five under 139 - and shared fourth place with Sweden's Carin Koch.
VAGLIANO TROPHY: Irish champion Tricia Mangan leads Britain and Ireland into action as they open the defence of their Vagliano Trophy against the Continent of Europe at Chantilly this morning. The 31-year-old lines up with the English champion Felicity Johnson in the top foursomes match against Swede Pernilla Lindberg and Spaniard Maria Hernandez.
Cork's Claire Coughlan teams up with three-times Scottish champion Anne Laing against French pair Alexandria Vilatte and Anne Lise Caudal.
Beaverstown's Martina Gillen is omitted from this morning's foursomes.
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