GOLF/Irish Amateur Open Championship: Last year's winner Richard McEvoy and runner-up Michael Hoey will not be around to defend their Irish Amateur Open Championship this weekend at Royal Dublin. Both Walker Cup players, along with 1999 winner Gary Cullen and Keith Nolan, the 1996-97 champion, have followed 1995 winner Padraig Harrington into the professional ranks.

But the field remains laced with quality players with Portmarnock's Noel Fox, the 2000 winner, and 1999 runner-up Jody Fanagan joining Limerick's Tim Rice and Ballyclare's Johnny Foster as home players capable of making the running this year.

The 72-hole event, which will be cut after tomorrow's second round to leave the top 40 players to scrap it out over 36 holes on Sunday, begins today with 120 competitors, a number of them overseas hopefuls.

South Africa's Albert Kruger and Charlie Schwartzel, with handicaps of plus four and plus five respectively, are just two of the Southern Hemisphere bunch keen to book a place in Sunday's play-off rounds. Kruger accompanies Fox and Stuart Manley from Wales in the opening rounds today and tomorrow.

Also playing is last month's West of Ireland champion Stuart Paul, who won the Rosses Point event last month by beating Derek McNamara from Connemara by one hole, while a number of the GUI's seven nominated players to compete in the British Amateur Championship at Royal Portcawl in June are also taking part.

Birr's Justin Kehoe, Michael McDermott from Stackstown, Waterford's Gavin McNeil, Athlone's Colm Moriarty as well as Rice and Foster are all included in the main draw.