South the perfect stage for some Walker Cup hopefuls

Ciaran McMonagle need have no fears about one thing when he plays in the South of Ireland Amateur Championship, sponsored by Irish Shell, at Lahinch this weekend: he can't be caught at the top of the GUI Order of Merit table and, so, is guaranteed to take the Willie Gill Award for 1999, presented to the season's most consistent player.

The Irish international from Dunfanaghy is in an unassailable position at the top of the rankings, which take in the Irish Close and Irish Strokeplay as well as the four provincial championships.

In fact, the West of Ireland is the only tournament in which McMonagle has failed to score. Otherwise, he has picked up 60 points for his maiden success in the Close, 40 points in the East, 25 points in the Strokeplay and a further 20 in the North for a total of 145 points.

McMonagle's closest pursuer is beaten Close finalist Michael Sinclair, of Knock, who is on 95 points, but even a win in the South (which would give the Ulster interprovincial a further 50 points to bring him level, if the Donegal man failed to collect any points) wouldn't be enough. Sinclair would still lose out because of the countback system in operation that gives preference to a national champion.

Nevertheless, the current standings make interesting reading, particularly with the prospect of international selection for the Home Internationals in September. McMonagle leads the way on 95; Sinclair is next best on 95; Beaverstown's Gary Cullen, who captured the strokeplay title, is lying in third on 90 alongside Garth McGimpsey, while Paddy Gribben is on 75.

Gribben, meanwhile, was disappointed not to make the cut in the British Open at Carnoustie, especially after a fine first round. In the event, no amateur managed to survive to the weekend and, as a result, the R & A didn't have need to present the silver medal to leading amateur.

But Gribben's form suggests he is the only Irish player assured of a place in the British and Irish team for the Walker Cup match with the United States at Nairn in Scotland next September. The 10man squad and reserves are due to be picked next week after the Welsh, Scottish and English national championships and the South of Ireland.

A member of the four-man team which won the World amateur team championship (Eisenhower Trophy) last November, and also the reigning European amateur strokeplay champion, Gribben's selection appears to be a mere formality.

The other Irish players named in the initial squad may need to win the South to force their way into the team. Eamonn Brady, Michael Hoey, Garth McGimpsey and Noel Fox were all named in the original training panel - and, of that quartet, McGimpsey, who has demonstrated good form, may be the closest to getting a call-up from the selection panel of Rupert de Lacy Staunton, Peter Benka, Scott MacDonald, Jeff Toye and Les Walker, and captain Peter McEvoy.

Even though they weren't included in the original squad, at least three more Irish players - McMonagle, Cullen and Ken Kearney - have also come under the watch of the Walker Cup selectors and a win for any of them in the South could force the hands of the selectors.

Meanwhile, an 11-strong team has been named to represent Ireland in the Home International Boys Championship at Conwy in north Wales on August 4th-6th. The team is: Darren Crowe (Dunmurry), Conor Doran (Banbridge), Philip McLaughlin (Ballyliffin), James McCracken (Malone), Paul McDonald (Old Conna), Derek McNamara (Connemara), Paul McNamara (Youghal), Sean McTernan (Co Sligo), Mark O'Sullivan (Galway), Ian Stafford (Bandon) and Marc Kynes (Old Conna). The non-travelling reserve is Limerick's Martin Poucher. After the internationals, the Irish team will remain on for the British Boys Championship at Royal St David's Golf Club in Harlech.

And, following their success in the event last year, the GUI has decided to nominate Mark Campbell (UCD and Stackstown) and Graeme McDowell (Rathmore) to play in the European Nations Cup at the Belgian Youths Championship at Club de Belgique next month.