Lawrie in squad for Portugal

NATIONAL champion Peter Lawrie, of UCD and Newlands, is among a confirmed 12 strong Irish squad which will participate in a GUI session in Quint a da Lago, Portugal, next week.

However, four players based in the United States on golfing scholarships Keith Nolan Michael McGinley, Richie Coughlan and Ricky Elliott are unable to attend.

With the GUI playing host to the European Amateur Team Championship at Portmarnock in June, the week long session, under the supervision of national coach Howard Bennett and newly elected captain Mick Craddock of Malahide, is considered an important part of the attempt to reclaim a trophy last won by Ireland at Murhof, Austria, in 1987.

Garth McGimpsey, a member of the 1987 team and also the previous winning side in 1983, is unavailable to attend the session in Portugal but is still on the national panel. Apart from Irish Close champion Lawrie, other reigning champions included on the trip next week are Noel Fox (East of Ireland) and Adrian Morrow (South of Ireland) and Walker Cup player Jody Fanagan.

The players travelling to Portugal are Fanagan (Milltown), Fox (Portmarnock), Lawrie (UCD and Newlands), Morrow (Portmarnock), Karl Bornemann (Douglas), John Morris (Douglas), Pat Murray (Tipperary), Brian Omelia (Newlands), Eddie Power (Tramore), Philip Purdy (Shandon Park), Nigel Howley (Ballinasloe), Paul Byrne (Nenagh).

Incidentally, Lawrie, Nolan, Fanagan and Fox were all named last week as part of a Royal and Ancient squad of 19 players, led by Peter Townsend, who will undergo intensive match practice at Valderrama on March 18th-23rd as part of Britain and Ireland's preparations for the defence of the Walker Cup at Quaker Ridge in August.