GOLF DIGEST

Golf news from around the world.

All eyes on Perry as he chases a third title

US TOUR:Kenny Perry, seeking his third victory in seven starts, and Brad Adamonis were tied for the lead midway through the final round of the John Deere Classic in Illinois yesterday.

The American pair were at 16-under-par for the tournament with Charlie Wi a shot back on 15 under.

Setting the clubhouse target was Jeff Gove on 12-under-par 272 with Bob Tway a shot back on 11 under after a 69 that included dropping three shots in the last two holes.

CHALLENGE TOUR:Rafael Cabrera Bello continued his native Spain's dominance of the sporting summer with a two-shot triumph over England's Gary Lockerbie after a final round 68 for a 25-under-par total of 265 at the Credit Suisse Challenge.

Cabrera Bello, who claimed his maiden European Challenge Tour title two years ago at the MAN NÖ Open in Austria, dropped just one shot and posted six birdies in a nerveless display of golf in testing conditions at Wylihof Golf Club in Luterbach, Switzerland.

Lockerbie's runner-up finish was the third of his Challenge Tour career, but the 25-year-old could console himself with a cheque for € 15,400. Spain's Santiago Luna and Italy's Lorenzo Gagli were tied for third on 19 under par.

Gareth Maybin closed with a 71 for a seven-under-par 285 with Michael McGeady two-shots back after a 73.

AMATEUR:Ireland finished on a high in both the European women's and boys' team championships at the weekend after a mixed few days. Following their failure to make the top flight in the women's contest over the Stenungsund course in Sweden and defeats by both Switzerland and Italy they were determined to salvage some pride and make sure they avoided the wooden spoon.

This they did, defeating Finland 3-2 and finishing in 15th spot condemning their victims to last place.

Corks Gillian OLeary and Maura Morrin from the Curragh got Ireland off to the perfect start with a foursomes victory and then Dawn Marie Conaty and Curtis Cup reserve Daniel McVeigh added singles points.

In the Boys' Championship at Bled in Slovenia the Irish overwhelmed Germany 4-1 in the seventh place play-off.

It was a comprehensive success and is something to build on for next months Boys' Home Internationals at Royal County Down

Paul Dunne, Luke Lennox and Reeve Whitson were Ireland's winners and they halved the other two matches.

There was further disappointment for Ireland though in the European Girls' Team Championship over the Murcar links north of Scotland as they went down 3-2 to the Czech Republic.

Remarkably Sweden won all three European titles showing the strength of amateur golf in their country.

England took the silver in the girls and bronze in the boys but just missed out in the women's, finishing in fourth place after being beaten by Scotland.