Painful debut for champion Coughlin

Ireland finished eighth in the European Ladies Team Golf Championships at Saint-Germain, Paris, at the weekend after losing their final match 6-1 to Spain.

Irish Close champion Claire Coughlin returned home last night with painful blisters on her feet after missing the final match. "They are ever so painful. I feel I can hardly walk and they need some rest," said Coughlin, who had enjoyed a moderately successful week. Ireland's only point against Spain came from Ulster Champion Alison Coffey from Warrenpoint. Coffey played some splendid golf to see off the highly talented Maria Beautell 4 and 3. Oonagh Purfield took the place of Coughlin in the singles and found Marta Prieto too hot to handle and crashed to a 6 and 5 defeat. Captain Jean Allen said: "I am absolutely delighted that we made it to the top flight for the first time for six years. I firmly believe that this is a major step forward in Irish golf. It is something we can build on." France lifted the crown when they defeated England in the final while Wales ended up in 11th spot and Scotland 13th.

Sligo's Sean McTernan and Mervyn Owens from Cork, who last year played major roles in Ireland's European Boys' Team golf championship win in Scotland, made a significant contributions to their success against Denmark on Saturday which gave them seventh spot in this year's event. McTernan chalked up an impressive 3 and 2 victory over Martin Larsson while Owens lined up with James McCracken in the foursomes and after a thrilling tussle against Morgen Kyed and Brian Akstup, they triumphed on the home green. Captain Jimmy Greene said: "Of course we would have liked to have been higher up especially as we were the defending champions but the boys played extremely well in the match-play phase and have every reason to be happy with their overall performance." Galway's Mark O'Sullivan got Ireland's third point when he won on the last green against Joachim Larssen. Meanwhile, England clinched the title for the seventh time since the championship began in 1980 with a convincing 5-1 victory over Italy.

Trish Johnson birdied the 18th hole to edge out Alison Nicholas in an all-British duel and ended a long lean spell with victory in the French Open yesterday at Paris International.

The six-under-par 282 total was good enough to secure the £15,000 first prize by a shot from Nicholas, who also shot 67.

Johnson, who finished second in the ShopRite Classic in America last month, was relieved to have ended her victory drought.

"At last," she said. "Three years is a long time.

Dave Eichelberger fired a superb final round 68 to capture the US Senior Open by three strokes from long-time leader Ed Dougherty at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club, Iowa, yesterday.

Dougherty, who had allowed a five-shot lead to evaporate on Saturday to only a one-stroke advantage going into yesterday's final round, could manage only a level par 72 to Eichelberger's four-under-par effort.

Eichelberger finished on 281, seven under par.

Ireland's Christy O'Connor Jnr., who had claimed his maiden US victory last week, shot rounds of 71 and 72 over the weekend to finish a creditable tied 18th in his first appearance in a Seniors major. O'Connor finished on five-over-par 293.

Dougherty, who started Saturday with a three-stroke lead and led by as many as five early in his third round, stumbled over the final 14 holes to record a three-over-par 75.

Dougherty's struggles enabled defending champion Hale Irwin to climb into a second-place tie with Bruce Summerhays and Eichelberger at three-under 213. Irwin and Summerhays shot twounder 70s, while Eichelberger carded a 73.

Gil Morgan was at 214 following a one-over 73 with Joe Inman the only other golfer under par through three rounds at one-under 215.