Coughlan eyes Irish title at Portsalon

Irish international and runner-up in last week's Women's British Amateur Open Championship at Littlestone GC in Kent, Claire Coughlan has no intention of joining the professional ranks, well not in the immediate future. Coughlan, who went down 3 and 2 to Swedish star Louise Stahle in the final has her sights set on a second Lancôme Irish Ladies Close Championship title when the competition begins on Sunday at Portsalon GC in Donegal.

"Naturally I am disappointed not to have won but I am not upset with the way I played and generally my performance at Littlestone exceeded all expectations," said 25- year-old Coughlan. "I will play in the Irish Close Championship this week and I have not closed the door on turning professional, but not yet. It would have been nice to do an Irish double after Brian (McElhinney) in the British Amateur last week but it was not to be."

Coughlan meanwhile, is one of three Irish players on the Britain and Ireland tea which will defend the Vagliano Trophy against the Continent of Europe in Chantilly, France, on July 22nd and 23rd. The former Irish champion and Curtis Cup player from Cork Golf Club is joined in the nine-strong line-up by the revitalised Martina Gillen from Beaverstown and 31-year-old fitness instructor Tricia Mangan from Ennis.

When Britain and Ireland won the Vagliano Trophy at Co Louth two years ago there was only one Irish player in the side - Mangan. The fact that there are now three players plus Carlow's Tara Delaney as a reserve on a team captained by Ireland's Ada O'Sullivan (Monkstown) emphasises the significant improvement in women's golf here in recent years.

Coughlan's bid for a second Irish title after her success in Carlow in 1999 will, however, face the sternest of tests from her two Vagliano team- mates, Gillen - the 2003 Irish champion - Mangan, Delaney and last year's winner Deirdre Smith (Co Louth), who beat Tara Delaney in an epic final at second tie hole at The Island Golf Club.

Marie Dunne (Skerries) the recent winner of the Leinster Championship, Maura Morrin, successful in last weekend's Curragh Scratch Cup, Gillian O'Leary (Cork) and Sinéad O'Sullivan (Galway) all have their sights set on the top prize in women's golf here.

The last time Portsalon hosted the Irish championship was in 1912 when the winner was from last year's host club The Island. Mabel Harris won her third title on the trot after success in Newcastle in 1910 and The Island in 1911. The only other occasion that Portsalon played hosts to the championship was in 1905 when May Hezlet from the Royal Portrush club was successful.

The championship begins on Sunday with two qualifying rounds after which the top 32 players will enter the matchplay stages on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday while the next 16 in the qualifying will play-off for the Ita Wallace Trophy.

The Irish men's senior team of Maurice Kelly, Hugh MacKeown and Michael Morris finished second at the European Seniors Nations Trophy at Chantilly, France, last week. The Irish trio finished six shots behind winners England with Italy taking third place on the same 304 total as Ireland.

MacKeown was best of the Irish on 150 after rounds of 74 and 76 which helped him to a share of ninth place, with Kelly on 154 (75, 79) and Morris 157 (76, 81).

The Nations Trophy was decided over the opening two rounds of the European Seniors Championship, which was captured by England's Roy Smethurst who carded a fine one-under-par 70 in the third and final round to narrowly beat Hans Reiter from Germany.

BRITAIN AND IRELAND ( team to play Continent of Europe at Chantilly in the Vagliano Trophy): C Coughlan (Cork), M Gillen (Beaverstown), F Johnson (Harborne), A Laing (Vale of Leven), H MacRae (Dunblane New), T Mangan (Ennis), K Smith (Waterlooville), C Queen (Drumpellier), S Walker (Kenwick Park). Reserves: J Wilson (Strathaven), T Delaney (Carlow), N Edwards (Ganton), M Reid (Chevin). Non-playing captain: A O'Sullivan (Ireland).