Strong home challenge for Newcastle

Another week, another tournament. From Berlin with a bronze medal in the women's world team championship to the foothills of the Mourne mountains, Ireland's top two players - Alison Coffey and Suzanne O'Brien - head an imposing home challenge in the British strokeplay championship which gets under way at Royal Co Down tomorrow.

In fact, it is doubtful if there has ever been a stronger numerical challenge from this country in the championship. Twenty four Irish women, along with Irish strokeplay champion Rebecca Coakley from Australia, who is a Leinster interprovincial, will feature in the 118-strong field. Claire Dowling, in 1986, was the last Irish player to win the title.

As far as competitive preparations are concerned, Coffey and O'Brien couldn't have asked for a tougher week than the one endured in Berlin last week for the Espirito Santo Trophy when, along with Rebecca Hudson on the three-woman Britain and Ireland team, they finished in third place behind champions France and runners-up Korea. Interestingly, both Coffey and O'Brien finished in tied-28th place in the individual standings.

One thing that the performance demonstrates, however, is that Ireland (effectively the ILGU) is getting to the stage where the country can consider competing as a stand-alone entity in the championship which is held every two years. Ironically, this week's Eisenhower Trophy (world men's team championship), also in Berlin, in which Ireland has no representation on the four-man Britain and Ireland team, will be the last occasion that the four home unions will compete as a single team. In two years time, the four home countries will (rightly) compete as separate teams.

That both O'Brien and Coffey should make the three-strong British and Irish team at all is, of course, a fitting testimony to the coaching structure put in place by the ILGU in recent years. However, it is perhaps worth noting the approach of France - who are also the reigning European champions - in their efforts to win the world championship under the captaincy of 25-year-old, Gwladys Nocera, who is actually an assistant golf coach at the New Mexico State University.

In her fourth year as non-playing captain, Nocera started preparations for Berlin as soon as France finished sixth in the championships in Chile two years ago. Shortly afterwards, the squad began working with a trainer who developed a daily stretching regimen, workout programme and dietary guidelines.

"These are the things you must do if you want to become a champion. It is not a sacrifice. It's not strict when you want to be number one," remarked Nocera, herself a former international player.

Whether or not Ireland - and the other home unions in the women's game - decide to follow the example set by the men and go it alone remains to be seen, but those who argue that there isn't sufficient strength in depth in this country should cast an eye on the radical coaching structures now in place to help junior golf here.

And, also, cast an eye on the finishing position of golf's number one country, the United States, who finished in 17th place in Berlin. Could an Ireland only team have done better? The simple answer, based on the performances of Coffey and O'Brien, is: Yes!

While Coffey and O'Brien are likely to be the two strongest Irish contenders at Royal Co Down over the next three days, possibly the most encouraging aspect of the home challenge is the number of young players who are competing.

The full Irish challenge is: Coffey, O'Brien, Elaine Dowdall, Deirdre Smith, Julie Bradley, Anita McCaw, Naoimh Quigg, Joanna Campbell, Ailish McCartan, Miriam Abernethy, Patsy McCarthy, Hazel Kavanagh, Fiona Healy, Bronagh Lunney, Sinead Keane, Joanne Black, Valerie Hassett, Una Marsaden, Maura Morrin, Emma Dickson, Sonya Verschur, Yvonne Cassidy, Claire Coughlan and Jill McAuley.