Sports digest/GOLF:Portstewart's Paul Cutler carded a level par 72 in the opening round of the European Amateur Championship in Finland yesterday but it was a disappointing return for the four other Irish players selected by the GUI to compete at Vanajanlinna Golf and Country Club, writes Paul Gallagher.
Cutler picked up an early birdie at the long second before parring his way to the turn. This year’s Lytham Trophy winner stumbled with bogeys at the 10th and 12th but got back on level terms with a second birdie at the par five 15th.
The 10th ranked player in the world amateur standings was five adrift of the joint overnight lead held by Swedens Jesper Kennegard and Johann Lopez-Lazaro, from France, who both carded 67s.
The Swede could have gone even lower had he not bogeyed his final three holes in a round containing no less than birdies.
Rory Leonard (Banbridge) was next of the Irish after signing for a 75, one better than Cian Curley (Newlands). The Castle’s Dara Lernihan (79) and Rathmore’s Alan Dunbar (80) were way off the pace and already have their work cut out to last all four rounds.
Hughes carries Irish rowing hopes
ROWING:Turlough Hughes has drawn defending champion Felix Bach in his heat of the single scull at the World Junior Championships which begin in Racice in the Czech Republic today, writes Liam Gorman.
The German is drawn in lane one, with Hughes in lane four. Four of the five competitors will go through to tomorrow’s quarter-finals but the three other rowers come from countries with a rowing pedigree.
Hughes, who turned 18 earlier this year, is Ireland’s sole representative at the championships.
Ireland favourites for Boys' Home International title
GOLF:Ireland are favourites to win the Boys' Home International Championship at Southerness today despite surrendering a three-point lunchtime advantage against England yesterday and having to settle for a share of the honours.
Victory over Wales today will give them the R and A Trophy while any other result could mean that the calculators will be necessary to work out the points situation.
Ireland, having easily overcome host country Scotland on Tuesday looked set for a second successive win when they led England 4-1 after the foursomes, only Alex Gleeson and Jack Hume losing.
With seven of the singles completed, Ireland still held a two-point advantage but Gleeson lost the last hole to go down to Oliver Carr.
Stephen Barry was beaten 2 and 1 by Colin Walsh, meaning that everything depended on the last game out between Gary Hurley and Greg Eason. They came to the final hole level, both had putts for victory, neither holed out so it ended all square and 7.5-7.5.
Scotland kept their hopes of the crown alive by beating Wales 10-5.
Entering the final day any one of the four countries could take the title, but with a victory and a halved match Ireland have it in their hands to grab the glory.
“It is up to us. We don’t have to rely on others,” said captain Liam Martin.
Meanwhile at Bangor, it was a disappointing day for hosts Ireland in the Girls’ Home Internationals as they were beaten 7.5-1.5 by reigning champions England, while Scotland beat Wales 6-3.
Today Ireland take on Wales, needing something special to re-ignite their challenge.
GIRLS’ HOME INTERNATIONALS: At Bangor: Ireland v England (Ireland names first): Foursomes: E O’Driscoll and A Courtney lost to H Davis and L Taylor 4 and 2; L McCarthy and A Farrell lost to A Peters and E Mallett 5 and 4; P Grant and J Carty lost to H Baek and E Taylor two holes.
Singles: O’Driscoll beat Davis 4 and 2; L Granmt lost to mallet 6 and 5; Courtney halved with G hall; S Helly lost to B Law 3 and 1; McCarthy lost to L Taylor two holes: P Grant lost to Peters 2 and 1. Match Result: Ireland 1.5 England 7.5. Other Result: Scotland 6 Wales 3
Martin aims for Pole position
CYCLING: Irish pro Daniel Martin is perfectly poised to push for a strong result in the Tour of Poland, sitting just 13 seconds off the race lead heading into today's first mountain stage.
The Garmin Transitions rider finished in the main bunch on yesterday’s fourth stage, placing 15th, behind the sprint winner Mirco Lorenzetto of the Lampre-Farnese Vini team. Martin attacked on the run-inbut was reeled in by the 55 man front group.
Lorenzetto took over the race lead and is now seven seconds clear of his nearest challenger, team-mate, Grega Bole. Martin is 21st overall, and equal on time to the tenth-placed rider.
Today’s stage takes the riders 149 kilometres to Ustron, with the race finishing on Sunday.
Rodriguez joins elite with 600th home run
BASEBALL: Alex Rodriguez added his name to one of Major League Baseballs most exclusive lists when he belted his 600th career home run yesterday, joining Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays among the top seven all-time sluggers.
Besides Aaron (755), Ruth (714) and Mays (660), the exclusive club also includes the recently retired Ken Griffey Jr (630), a team mate of Rodriguezs when he broke in with the Seattle Mariners as an 18-year-old shortstop in 1994. It is a list topped by Barry Bonds with 762.
