Women's Interprovincials: Leinster are on target to win their fifth successive title after yesterday's two wins on the first day of the AIB-sponsored Interprovincial championship at Killarney. In the morning they had a 7-0 win over Connacht and followed with a 4-3 win over Ulster in the afternoon. The champions were behind against Ulster until Oonagh Purfield beat Gemma Hegarty on the 17th green and Deirdre Smith had an impressive 7 and 6 win over Sonya Verschuur.
Ulster beat Munster by 5-2 in the morning but Munster recovered in the afternoon, losing only one match to Connacht. The only Connacht winner was Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey) who beat international seniors champion Valerie Hassett (Ennis) by one hole.
Boys' Home Internationals: Ireland suffered one of their worst ever drubbings in the storm-hit Boys' championship at Conwy, North Wales, yesterday. Torrential rain overnight and again in mid morning meant suspension of play on the second day of the series. However, when play did begin, Ireland lost four and halved one of the five foursomes and were then beaten in eight of the 10 singles, managing just one victory and one half in the afternoon in an overall 13-2 hammering. "It was as though a tidal wave hit us all day." said Irish Captain Jimmy Greene. Only Darren Crowe got a singles point for the Irish when he beat David Skinns by 5 and 4.
British Girls' Amateur Open: Beaverstown's Martina Gillen put up a gallant fight in the British Girls' Championship at High Post, Wiltshire, yesterday against 17-year-old Italian Federika Piovano - eventually losing on the final green. Gillen - three down with eight to play - won two of the next five to reduce the deficit to one before eventually going under on the home green.
US Tour: Brent Geiberger fired a seven-under-par 65 to take the first-round lead at the Buick Open in Michigan. He ran in seven birdie putts, the longest from 15 feet.
Tom Kite posted one of his best rounds in a dismal year, a 66 that left him a stroke off the pace. He was joined on that score by Esteban Toledo, Charles Raulerson, Omar Uresti and Ted Tryba.
Tryba racked up six birdies, an eagle, a par and a bogey on the back nine for a 29.
Spanish sensation Sergio Garcia went out in 35 and came back in 38 for a disappointing 73.
