The president of the Links Golfing Society, Des Smyth, will be aiming at a repeat of 25 years ago when he lines up in the Benson and Hedges Links Pro-Am at Royal Dublin on Thursday. Then in his second year on the professional tour, Smyth was the winner of the first

Benson and Hedges-sponsored outing a quarter of a century ago. Meanwhile, Jim Carvill will be hoping that his form of the latter part of last year will continue as the Links Golfing Society begins the second half of their winter programme. Carvill leads the chase for the professional 36-hole overall prize on one under par. The ever-consistent Bobby Browne is two shots back in second place on plus one with Smyth and John Kelly from the Ward Driving Range next on plus two.

Royal Dublin's Gerry Fogarty and Eamonn McCartan from Greenore share the lead in the amateur nett on plus one from a trio in second place - John Hutchinson (Royal Dublin), Alan Walton (The Island) and John Grant (The Island) - who are all on four over par. The amateur gross is a battle between current internationals Gary Cullen (Beaverstown) and Noel Fox (Portmarnock). Both players are on four over par and lead by one from Dundalk's Peter Rogers.