THE South of Ireland, the oldest of the regional championships, with a history dating to 1895, gets under way at its traditional venue, Lahinch, this morning and has attracted an entry of the highest quality for a competition sponsored by the Bank of Ireland.

Unlike the other championships, this does not incorporate, any stroke play element it is match play all the way. The higher handicaps are involved today in the first round in their endeavour to join the elite in the second phase tomorrow.

The defending champion, Jody Fanagan, made the breakthrough to win his first major title last season after some frustrating near misses. In the final he defeated Padraig Harrington, now performing deeds of note on the professional circuit.

Fanagan faces a difficult assignment in seeking to become the first man to retain the title since Michael Guerin in 1963. With the exception of Harrington, all of Ireland's team last season are in the field. They include, the young and the ambitious, as well as the most experienced and successful Irish amateur of the current era, Garth McGimpsey.

For McGimpsey this represents an opportunity to rectify an omission from his long and distinguished list of success. A former winner of the British amateur title, he has won the Irish Close, North, South and West of Ireland titles, but has not prospered on the formidable Lahinch lay out in this championship.

Earlier this year he gave notice that his hunger for success has not diminished when he took the West of Ireland title.

The field also includes the other two regional winners this year Noel Fox (East) and Michael McGinley (North). A win for McGinley would enable him to equal the feat of his brother, Paul who won this title five years ago.

An overseas challenger in the field who could make an impact is James Stahl from the United states in what promises to be a championship in the very best traditions of the tournament.

Remarkably Paul McGinley one of five winners of the South over the last decade now in the professional ranks.

Perhaps it will be another of the younger school who will capture this famous old trophy as the prelude to greater things.