EUROPEAN AMATEUR:Ireland celebrated a famous victory in the European Amateur Team championship in the Turin heat on Saturday, and captain Michael Burns immediately looked forward to the challenges that lie ahead in the year.
They became the first country for almost two decades to win two consecutive Euro crowns and also only the second nation to win this coveted title twice on the bounce on two occasions.
And Turin is obviously a happy hunting ground for Ireland as they won in the Italian city in 1967, having become champions at St George's in Kent two years earlier.
Having retained their title at a time when the competition in Europe is so fierce, Ireland can look forward with confidence to the World Championships for the Eisenhower Trophy in Adelaide in October.
"There's no doubting we will have a strong team going to Adelaide and you can be sure we will be giving it our very best shot," said Burns in his last year as captain. "And we will be going for the Home International title at Muirfield in a big way as well."
Ireland retained the title they had won at Western Gailes last year with a splendid 4½-2½ victory over England.
The foursomes were shared one match apiece, but midway through the singles England, who were looking for the their 10th title, had the edge up in three of the matches and were down in two.
Lurgan's Gareth Shaw, who turns professional this week, was always in charge of his match against Charlie Ford, being two up at the turn and went on to record a 3 and 1 success.
Royal Dublin's Niall Kearney, who had been left out of the matchplay stages until Saturday, turned in a magnificent performance to defeat Matt Haines by 3 and 2.
But it was really Paul Cutler, the week's outstanding player, who turned things around to ensure that Ireland remained kings of Europe.
The Portstewart star was one down after 11 holes to Bristol's Chris Wood, but then roared into top gear, winning the 12th with a par and then wedging to 15 feet for a winning birdie three at the 13th to nose in front. Once there he could not be stopped, and wins at 14 and 16 took him to an all-important triumph.
Cutler finished the week with six out of six matchplay points on his debut.
US TOUR:Anthony Kim rallied to win the ATT National at Congressional Country Club in Maryland last night.
The 23-year-old was three shots off the lead at the start of the final round but shot a bogey-free, five-under-par 65 to finish on 12-under 268 and win by two strokes from Swede Fredrik Jacobson.
EUROPEAN SENIORS: Ian Woosnam captured the second title of his rookie European Seniors Tour season after securing a three-shot victory over Paraguay's Angel Franco at the Russian Seniors Open at Pestovo Golf and Yacht Club near Moscow.
Woosnam braved persistent rain to card a closing, two-under of 70 for a total of 204, 12 under par. It was the Welshman's second title in eastern Europe following his maiden success at last month's Parkridge Polish Seniors Championship in Krakow, and the €71,432 first prize consolidated his top spot on the Order of Merit with earnings of €210,018.
CHALLENGE TOUR: England's David Horsey became the first double winner on the tour this season after holing a crucial, 36-foot birdie on the final hole to clinch the AGF-Allianz EurOpen de Lyon by one stroke.
In driving rain, Horsey finished on a 22-under-par total of 266 after a flawless final round 65 at the Golf du Gouverneur for his second title in three weeks following his victory at the Telenet Trophy.
LET:England's Rebecca Hudson captured her second title in the space of three weeks with a final round 64 at the weather-interrupted English Open.
Hudson came from four shots behind the overnight leader Melissa Reid, also from England, to capture the title by a stroke at the Oxfordshire club in Thame.
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