Digest/Seniors tour: Sam Torrance, Carl Mason and John Bland all carded six-under-par rounds of 66 to share the lead after the first round of the De Vere PGA Seniors Championship at De Vere Carden Park in Cheshire.
The Scot, the Englishman and the South African go into the second round one shot ahead of Bob Cameron, John Chillas, Seiji Ebihara, Bill Longmuir and John Morgan, while David Good and Alan May are two shots off the pace after recording four under par 68s.
Eamonn Darcy and Denis O'Sullivan were the leading Irishmen at the end of the first round. They posted rounds of 69 to share 12th place with a large group comprising Armando Saavedra, Tony Charnley, John McTear, Simon Owen, Hank Woodrome, Tony Allen, Guillermo Encina, Nick Job, Terry Gale, Ray Stewart and Luis Carbonetti.
WOMEN'S TOUR: Liselotte Neumann birdied the 18th hole to complete a four-under-par 68 and top a leaderboard dominated by Swedes at the Scandinavian TPC near Malmo.
World number one Annika Sorenstam and Carin Koch were tied for second place, one shot back, with Spain's Marta Prieto on 70.
Another of the most celebrated Swedish players, Helen Alfredsson, was in a group on 71.
Ireland's Rebecca Coakely and Hazel Kavanagh are both well down the field after disappointing opening rounds of 80.
SENIORS AMATEUR: Four American golfers lead the way with one round to play in the Senior British Open Amateur Championship at Woburn. Alex Tarumianz and John French plus overnight leaders Alan Foster and Robert Morris lead the way on 146, three clear of the field. Maurice Kelly (Killeen) leads the Irish challenge on 152 after rounds of 72 and 80.
US TOUR: The first day's play in the International at Castle Pines Golf Club in Colorado was a complete wash-out. No play was possible and the first round was rescheduled to begin at 2pm today.
BOYS INTERNATIONALS: Ireland finished with the wooden spoon in the four-cornered Boys' Home International championship at Woodhall Spa yesteday.
Having lost to Wales and England, they needed to beat the Scots to avoid a whitewash and the dreaded spoon, but they made an unhappy start by losing the foursomes three matches to one with one halved.To their credit, the Irish battled bravely in the afternoon and shared the singles, but it was too late and they went down 8½-6½ to end up at the foot of the pile.
England won the international title for the eighth year in succession when the edged out Wales 8-7.
GIRLS INTERNATIONALS: Ireland's girls fared much better in their Home Internationals at Worplesdon by beating Wales 5-4 to keep alive a remote chance of lifting the Stroyan Cup.
Ireland take on England today knowing that a win will give them a chance of the title, but Wales, by virtue of their substantial victory over the English, are in pole position, and any win over the Scots should clinch them the title.
Ireland and Wales shared the morning foursomes, but then wins by Danielle McVeigh, Anne McCormack and Fiona Carroll and a crucial half by Laura Holmes got them past the winning post. England beat Scotland 5-4.
