If not quite a rival for Darwin's theory of evolution, the continued growth of the Irish Amateur Open Strokeplay championship certainly vindicates the GUI's decision to revive the competition six years ago. From a small, uncertain birth, the event has matured in such a short time that even its clash this weekend with the English equivalent, the Brabazon Trophy, doesn't unduly detract from its prestige.
A record overseas entry - involving raiders from Finland, France, Germany, England, Portugal and the United States - means that Ireland's top players will have a tough task to keep the championship at home. And, in fact, the only certainty about this weekend's 72-holes competition at Royal Dublin, starting on Friday, is that a new champion will be crowned. Previous winners Padraig Harrington and Keith Nolan have progressed to the professional ranks while last year's champion, Michael Hoey of Shandon Park, is unable to defend as he is on scholarship to Clemson College in the USA.
Given the Finnish annexation of the West of Ireland title last week, David Jones's success in the premier Welsh strokeplay championship - the St David's Gold Cross at Harlech - last weekend proved rather timely. It also constitutes a considerable boost for the 19-year-old City of Derry player who emerged from junior golf last season with a considerable reputation but who, after a winter of intensive coaching in the south of Spain, had struggled somewhat to bring his "A" game to tournament play.
All that changed over the weekend. After inspiring the Irish Youths to victory over Wales in their annual match, a curtain raiser for the championship, Jones went on to compile rounds of 70, 74, 71, 71 for 286 and a two-stroke win over defending champion Lee Harpin of Wales and five shots clear of third-placed Craig Watson, the 1998 British Amateur championship runner-up.
So, Jones, who returned home from Wales yesterday, will head into the Royal Dublin event as one of the main contenders and, indeed, will feature in one of the most appealing three-balls of the opening two rounds when he partners Garth McGimpsey and David Mortimer. Gary Cullen, last year's runner-up, is also in a three-ball worth following as he is playing alongside international colleague Noel Fox and Finland's Mihho Korhonen.
In this Walker Cup year, the Irish strokeplay is one of the tournaments designated by the selectors as a form guide and, as such, carries extra weight for panel members . . . and was one of the attractions for new sponsors Ulster Bank.
Apart from the Walker Cup selectors making the trip to Dollymount to cast an eye over potential players for that match with the United States in Nairn in August, the Irish selectors will also be out in force given the proximity of the European Team Championships in Italy in July.
Incidentally, a four-man Irish team has been selected to play South Africa in a Test match at Baltray on May 26th-27th, just prior to the British Amateur championship at Royal Co Down. The Irish team consists of Fox, Cullen, Andrew McCormick and Paddy Gribben while Jones and Johnny Foster, winner of the Woodbrook Scratch Cup on Sunday, are the non-travelling reserves.
In fact, the Walker Cup selectors will also be visiting Moortown for the Brabazon Trophy this weekend when Gary Wolstenholme will be seeking to add one of the few titles that he doesn't include in his portfolio.
Wolstenholme has already won twice on the English amateur circuit this season but will have nine other members of the British and Irish Walker Cup squad in competition with him as well as an international field that includes players from Germany, Belgium, Italy, France, Denmark, New Zealand, Finland, South Africa, Australia and Barbabos. All of which goes to show the ever-growing international interest in amateur competition.
