Withdrawal of sponsor forces cancellation

The European Under-21 championships, won by England's Barry Hume and Spain's Emma Cabrera at Turnberry last year, have been cancelled only four weeks before they were due to be hosted again by the five-star Ayrshire hotel and golf resort.

Sponsors Lexus, one of Ryder Cup hero Colin Montgomerie's main sponsors, have pulled out late in the day with golf unions all over Europe having selected players to travel to Scotland for what was becoming a prestigious end-of-season event.

Ireland were to be represented by Banbridge's Conor Doran and Philip McLaughlin from Ballyliffin.

Paul Gillmon, IMG's tournament director, said: "I am disappointed to announce that due to a very last-minute withdrawal from Lexus on title sponsorship we will be cancelling this event for 2002.

"Without Lexus sponsorship of the event, we cannot justify running the tournament as it is not financially viable.

"We are very disappointed with this decision, especially as it has come at such a late stage in the build-up to the event. We very much hope that with secure long-term sponsorship for 2003 and future years, that we will be able to run the event successfully again.

"I apologise for the inconvenience this may have caused to all who were supporting the event by nominating their players. I hope that in the future we will still be able to rely upon the federations to support the event, whatever format it should take."

The tournament had been scheduled from October 30th to November 1st over the Turnberry Ailsa course.

There will be no such problems for the Irish men's seniors team as they prepare for the "seniors home internationals" at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club in Scotland starting today.

Ireland have three of last year's team - Sean Coyne (Killarney), Harry McKinney (European) and Bob Wallace (Spa) - that finished second to England in the inaugural event at Portmarnock and they will be joined by new caps Gerry O'Keeffe (Waterford), Tom Fox (Co Louth), Paddy Harrington (Muskerry) and Frank Gannon (Skerries) in their bid to capture the title.

Scotland will be entering for the first time as last year the SGU did not send a team and Sweden completed the quartet along with England, Ireland and Wales at Portmarnock.

The Ladies Golf Union are planning a three-day home international programme every October for senior women, which is those over 50 years.

The senior women's home internationals will be played for the first time at a venue close to South Staffordshire Golf Club, which will host next year's senior women's British open amateur championship from September 24th to 26th. The dates for the senior women's home internationals will be October 1st to 3rd.

Meanwhile, Ros Page drove 400 miles from Bristol with her husband Mike to play in last week's British senior women's open amateur golf championship at Longniddry near Edinburgh. The trip was well worthwhile as Ros, a 52-year-old two-handicapper won the title by six strokes after a final round of two-over-par 76 for a 54-hole total of 229 with Mike as her caddie.

"That more than makes up for last year when I was level with Mary McKenna on the last tee and she birdied the last to win the title," said Page who plays for the England senior women's team after "not being good enough to win a cap before I turned 50."

Sweden's Christina Birke, winner of the Spanish senior women's open title and the Nordic senior women's championship this year, finished second with a 78 for 235.

Valerie Hassett from Ennis was best of the Irish in the absence of the injured Mary McKenna, the defending champion.

Hassett finished in eighth place on 240 after rounds of 74, 84 and 79.

Jane Allen from Royal Portrush finished on 254 after rounds of 83, 85 and 86 while Donegal's Eileen MacMullan was a shot further back on 255 after three rounds of 85.