Lowry to lead home challenge

IRISH AMATEUR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP:A RECORD 91 overseas entries from 17 countries will tee it up in the AIB-sponsored Irish Amateur Open Championship beginning today at Royal Dublin.

There are 29 Irish players in a field of 120, the cut-off point in terms of handicap of plus-1.5 underlining the sheer quality of competitor.

Thirty-three plus-one handicap golfers were on the waiting list.

It is five years since an Irishman claimed the trophy.

Noel Fox - now a professional - won the national title for the second time in 2003.

Since then Welshman Craig Smith (Carton House), the Scot Richie Ramsay (Carton House) and the Finn Annti Ahokas (Portmarnock) prevailed and last year on the tournament's return to Royal Dublin following the redevelopment of the famous Dublin links by Martin Hawtree, the Scottish Walker Cup star Lloyd Saltzman triumphed.

He turned professional immediately after the Walker Cup last year and so won't defend the title. But his brother Zack will be in the field as part of a strong Scottish entry that includes the two lowest-handicap golfers in the field in Kevin McAlpine (plus 4.9) and Callum Macauley (plus 4.8).

By far the biggest foreign contingent comes from France: 35 entries. Scotland (19) and England (14) are also well represented while there are a couple of golfers travelling from Turkey.

The number of Irish competitors has been augmented by six golfers who qualify under a condition of the tournament that provides that any Irish entrant under the age of 21 on January 1st who has reached the match play stages of the West of Ireland Championship gains a place in the field.

The six are Kelan McDonagh (Athlone), Steven Webster (Castle), James Monaghan (The Island), Michael Durcan (Co Sligo), Paul Cutler (Portstewart) and Brendan Walton (The Island).

The Irish challenge though should be led by the in-form Shane Lowry and Jonathan Caldwell.