Irish champion Alison Coffey kept herself in contention for a medal in the European Women's championship over the Amber Baltic course on Poland's North coast yesterday with a highly respectable level par second round of 72 for a 143 aggregate.

That leaves her six strokes off the halfway pace set by leader Miriam Nagl of Germany, but only three adrift of the medal positions, and with her ability in strokeplay there is every reason to believe that she could challenge for a medal.

But Suzanne O'Brien was rather disappointed to slip somewhat with a 76 for a 148 total, and the player who went through the Curtis Cup match against the Americans unbeaten needs to step up a gear today if she is to put herself in a challenging position.

It looked at one time as though Coffey might do better when she was out in two under par 36, thanks to a birdie three at the first, when she knocked in a six-footer, and a birdie four at the seventh after a wedge to a foot.

She dropped a stroke, however, at the 11th when she drove out to the right and her shot back into play had to be hit out sideways because of trees being in the way, and three putts at the next cost her another stroke. But to her credit she finished with six straight pars to keep herself in the hunt.

"I had lots of chances but just didn't hold putts. I have had two solid rounds but would like to have converted more putts."

It was trouble on the greens that really plagued O'Brien as she three-putted five times: "That's the story. I am not at all happy," said the Milltown player.

Meanwhile, Waterville's David Higgins carded a six-under-par 66 on the opening day of the BMW Russian Open in Moscow. It left him a shot behind the leader, Sweden's Tony Edlund, who carded nine birdies in his 65.

Higgins currently tops the Challenge Tour Order of Merit after victories in Sweden and Germany to secure his tour card for next year and could take a big step towards finishing number one 1 with another high finish.

In the Irish Club Youths' Championship at Moyola Park, Gareth Maybin, who sprang to prominence in the North of Ireland Championship last month, was in the news again yesterday as he led Ballyclare into the national semi-finals.

Yesterday he carded a level par 71 after turning one-over-par. He birdied the fifth hole but lost shots at the second and ninth. On the way back he pencilled in a birdie at the long 13th along with eight pars.

Simon McConnell added a 72.

Ballyclare's two-card total from three of 143 was four shots clear of Shandon Park, led by Emirates and North of Ireland champion Michael Hoey. The senior international matched Maybin's 71.

Ballyclare now go forward to the Irish semi-finals at Donegal Golf Club on August 28th.