Jack Hume leads the way in strong Irish start at European Amateur Championship

Ireland have made a fine start to the European Amateur Men’s Team Championships at Halmstad in Sweden and currently lie in third place behind one shot adrift of joint leaders France and Denmark after 18 of the 36-hole qualifying part of the tournament.

The top eight teams at that point compete for medals in a foursome and singles matchplay format while the remaining eight countries will contest places nine to 16.

Naas' Jack Hume led the way for Ireland with a superb four under, 68, the second best score of the day. Cormac Sharvin and Dermot McElroy both signed for 70s, while Gavin Moynihan (73) and Paul Dunne (74) were the other counting scores. The six man teams are permitted to discard one card and in Ireland's case that was Gary Hurley's 75.

The Irish side is 10 shots clear of eighth placed Wales but will be trying to earn the number one seeding for the matchplay stage of the tournament after tomorrow’s second strokeplay qualifying rounds.

For the ladies team Ireland need to step up a gear if they are to qualify for the quarter-finals of the European Ladies Team Championship at Helsingar in Denmark.

They finished day one in joint tenth place with a score of 374 some 17 behind leaders Switzerland but more importantly three behind the eighth placed nations.

Leona Maguire after her brilliant runners-up display in the European Masters at the weekend led the way for Ireland with a level par 71 which included two birdies and two bogeys- but she finished with eight straight pars.

Maria Dunne of Skerries posted a 74 while Jessica Carty and Paula Grant both took 76  and Olivia Mehaffey had one of her off days taking 77 but her card still counted as Chloe Ryan returned a non-counting 80.

In the Girls Championship in the Czech Republic Ireland are in ninth spot and could make the quarter-finals with an improved performance today.

They are on 381,just one stroke behind eighth placed Austria.

Annabel Wilson of Lurgan was the leading Irish player on 73 while Niamh McSherry (75),Julie McCarthy (75),Mairead Martin (78) and Ciara Casey (81) all counted towards the aggregate.m It was the 84 of Valerie Clancy that did not count.

Spain lead the Girls standings at the halfway stage of the qualifying phase.