David Higgins has set himself the target of a return to competitive action in the Moroccan Open on March 12th-15th. In the meantime, he will be working towards full fitness, probably by taking two weeks in the sun.

The 25-year-old from Waterville had the plaster removed over the weekend from a fractured left wrist. And X-rays have revealed that it, and a similarly damaged right elbow, are healing satisfactorily.

This was the price Higgins paid for a fall off a horse in Limerick on New Year's Eve. He missed the Perth Classic last weekend, and could also have expected to get into the South African PGA Championship in Johannesburg next week.

"I had planned to go to Florida on January 5th, so that went by the boards," he said yesterday. "The important thing is that I'm now back chipping and putting and I hope to have progressed to an eight-iron by next weekend."

He went on: "In a way, this could be a blessing. It has meant a complete break from the game for the first time in years, making my appetite for competition sharper than it has ever been at this time. I also feel very strong mentally, much stronger than I did last season."

Repeated disappointment for Higgins last season was the manner in which he would make the cut and then achieve no progress over the closing two rounds. "I have since concluded that I was trying too hard," he said. "Sure, the game is important, but it's not the end of the world if I hit a bad shot."

Francis Howley, who graduated with Higgins from the Tour School in Spain last November, will be among the 19 players attempting to qualify today for the South African Open. Eamonn Darcy is the only other Irish player who has entered the event and he, of course, is exempt in Category 11.

A strong international line-up is headed by Ernie Els, Bernhard Langer, Vijay Singh and Frank Nobilo.

The Munster branch of the GUI has confirmed that the Munster Youths Championship would take place at Lahinch on April 18th-19th. The holder. The holder is Johnny Foster (Ballyclare).