Graeme McDowell will attempt to extend his impressive run of form when he lines up in the 13th European Amateur Championship over the tree-lined Murhof course in Austria today.
The 21-year-old Alabama University student from Rathmore is the current Leinster and Irish Youths' champion as well as the Irish Amateur Close holder. McDowell recently won the World Universities Championship by 10 shots and is fired up for the challenge over the next four days.
"I like the course. The greens are fast but true and it is a course on which you can score well but will get into trouble if you spray your shots," said McDowell, one of eight Irish players in the 147-strong field.
Portmarnock's Noel Fox has been very consistent in strokeplay tournaments this summer and won the Irish order of merit title. "I am just glad that Graeme did not come back from University sooner otherwise the order of merit might have escaped me," said 26-year-old Fox, the East of Ireland Champion.
Andrew McCormick and Ciaran McMonagle are among the other Irish who will be bidding for success. The Murhof course, established in 1963 and the home of the European Team Championships 13 years ago, is 6,274 metres long and has a par of 72.
Among the favourites will be English champion Paul Casey, Scottish title holder Steven O'Hara and Wales's Jamie Donaldson, all of whom are in the Britain and Ireland Eisenhower Trophy team for the World Championships in three weeks' time. Competitors play one round on each of the next three days and then the leading 70 go forward to the final round on Saturday.
Maria Dunne of Skerries is just four shots off the pace after the first round of the British Girls Open Amateur Championship at Blairgowrie.
Dunne, who opened with a 74 is two behind leader Audrey Riguelle of France who carded a 70.
Irish Girls Close champion Martina Gillen from Beaverstown opened with a 76 for a share of 21st place. However, Heather Nolan (Shannon), Sarah Gallagher (Claremorris), Michelle Holmes (Enniscrone) and Suzie Hayes (Hermitage) have some work to do if they are to make the 64 qualifiers for the matchplay stages which begins tomorrow.
Nolan carded an 83 while Gallagher is two shots back on 86, Holmes on 89 and Hayes well behind after a disappointing 94.
