Golf DigestTOUR SCHOOL: Two members of the Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team which defeated the United States at Ganton last month eased through the European Tour School stage one qualifier at Carden Park yesterday.

Portmarnock's Noel Fox and Welshman Stuart Manley carded 70 and 69, respectively, for a five-under-par, four-round total of 283 and a share of ninth place as 32 players passed the test for the second stage at the end of next month.

Mark Smith, who has made three visits to the European Tour School in five attempts, held on to the lead he seized after the second round but had to share the spoils with Ireland's Michael Hoey, who played in the Walker Cup two years ago.

Hoey signed for a faultless 69 containing three birdies to lie at 12-under-par 276.

David Higgins led four Irish qualifiers at Five Lakes. Higgins finished on 280 after a final round of 71 and he is joined by former tour member Richie Coughlan, Damien Mooney and Ciarán McMonagle in the second stage.

Ireland's other Walker Cup player, Colm Moriarty, missed out at Carden Park after he finished on 292 - six shots outside the cut.

SENIORS TOUR: Denis O'Sullivan and Paul Leonard are five shots off the pace set by Trinidad and Tobago's Alan Mew, who carded a superb five- under-par 67 in windy conditions to open a two-shot lead, after the first round of the inaugural English Open at Hillside GC.

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