Baker guides his deputies to repeat victory

CROSS PARTY co operation reaped appropriate rewards on a day off from Dail duties for deputies Liam Kavanagh, Austin Deasy and Charlie McCreevy when, along with former Ryder Cup player Peter Baker, they won the Murphy's Irish Open Pro Am at Druids Glen yesterday.

Remarkably, the trio were also triumphant in last year's Pro Am at Mount Juliet, and their team total of a 17 under par 125 gave them a five shot margin over the team brought home by Ronan Rafferty.

Labour's Kavanagh, who contributed two birdies in the opening five holes, Fine Gael's Deasy and Fianna Fail's McCreevy - augmented by Baker, who shot a one under par 70 - cruised to victory. "I wouldn't mind four rounds of 70 in the tournament itself," said Baker.

Kavanagh, a 12 handicap member of Wicklow, Deasy, who plays of eight at Dungarvan, McCreevy, an 18 handicapper at the Curragh, and Baker were never troubled. The runners up featured Rafferty, East of Ireland champion Noel Fox, hotelier Noel O'Callaghan and Paddy Whelan.

Raymond Burns won the professional prize with a superb four under par 67, leaving him two shots clear of Scotland's Andrew Coltart. Burns paved the way for his pre tournament boost with an outward journey of four under 31, which enabled him to net a cheque for Pounds 800.

. Sweden's Annika Sorrenstam, women's golf world number one, makes her first appearance on the European Tour this season as she sets out to defend her Hennessy Cup title in Cologne today.

Sorenstam, who retained her US Open Championship title last month, is one of six former winners of the Hennessy Cup chasing the Pounds 45,000 first prize.