Winner has to shell out for trip

Although the winner of this year's South of Ireland championship at Lahinch will be invited to compete in next year's Houston Open on the US Tour, the player - whoever he is - will have to pay for the dream trip out of his own pocket.

The Royal and Ancient has given the "bonus prize" the thumbs-up, but only on the understanding that the rules of the United States Golf Association are followed to the letter of the law.

In this regard, the USGA is somewhat more stringent than the R & A when it comes to assisting players with expenses. The USGA rules of amateur status insist that the player "pays all of his own expenses", and this will be the case for any amateur participating in the Houston Open.

And the GUI - the governing body of the sport in this country - will inform the winner that he cannot receive any financial assistance in taking up the offer to play in Houston.

It still remains an exciting bonus prize to whoever lands the millennium edition of the South, however, and has come about because of Shell's sponsorship of the oldest provincial championship and their links with the Houston Open.

Of more immediate concern to the country's top amateurs, though, is this week's Irish Open strokeplay championship, sponsored by Ulster Bank, which takes place at Royal Dublin starting on Friday and finishing with 36-holes on Sunday.

Given the clash with the Brabazon Trophy (English strokeplay championship), it is quite remarkable - and testimony to the increased status of an event that was only revived in 1995, after a lapse of 35 years, when Padraig Harrington won at Fota Island - that golfers from abroad comprise 32 per cent of the field.

The potential exists for an even greater invasion of visitors in the future, because the GUI has decided to reshuffle the calendar next year and, so, avoid a clash with the Brabazon.

As things stand, no fewer than 58 players in this week's field are playing off plus-handicaps, with Irish international Gary Cullen, of Beaverstown, defending the title he won over the Bull Island links 12 months ago.

Meanwhile, former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher yesterday presented the promising West Waterford teenager John Dunphy Jnr with a Golf Foundation award at a reception in Wentworth as the "most improved young player" in Britain and Ireland last year.

The 15-year-old, who only started playing golf two years ago, has seen his handicap tumble from 30 (special junior handicap) down to four. Last year, Dunphy played in the All-Ireland schools finals, and there is a great expectation in West Waterford that he will follow his clubmate, Alan Harty, to representative honours at provincial and international level.