AMATEUR GOLF: Ireland staged a tremendously courageous battling performance in the heat at Karlstad, Sweden, yesterday before bowing out of contention for the Women's European Amateur Team title.

They went down 5-2 to Sweden in the first matchplay round, but that bare statistic told only half the story as the tie was much closer than that scoreline suggests.

New Irish champion Tricia Mangan, who fought her heart out before gaining a share of the spoils with Maria Ohlsson, said: "It was such a pity that we didn't manage to win one of the foursomes games. That would have made a big difference in psychological terms. We wanted to win so much and everyone gave their all, but this Swedish team is special."

Both foursomes matches were lost 3 and 2, and that really meant the Irish had a mountain to climb, needing to win four of the five singles.

Beaverstown's Martina Gillen had the unenviable job of trying to tame Sweden's top player, Louise Stahle, the twice British Amateur Open champion who is planning to turn pro later in the summer.

Gillen soon found herself three down and was unable to make any impression on her opponent who was long and straight and hitting her approach shots with precision. In fairness to the Irish star, she held her own after a topsy turvy start but was in the end beaten 4 and 3.

Now Ireland cannot finish better than fifth and today take on Finland who were overwhelmed by England.

In the semi-finals today England meet Sweden while France play defending champions Spain.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Graham Marsh had 10 birdies and two bogeys in his eight-under-par 64 to grab an early, two-shot lead in yesterday's opening round of the Senior Players' Championship in Michigan.

The New Zealander scorched across the TPC of Michigan course just outside Detroit to lead from Tom Watson and Isao Aoki. Mark McNulty signed for a one-under 71.

But Des Smyth had a nightmare round, including a triple-bogey seven at the second, which eventually saw him finish on seven-over-par 79 to lie in 78th and last place.

US TOUR: Canada's Glen Hnatiuk and American Craig Bowden set the early pace on six-under-par 65 midway through the first round of the John Deere Classic in Illinois.

Michelle Wie (15), playing in her third Tour event, carded a one-under 70 at the Deere Run Country Club to be well placed to make the cut.