Dream start for Ireland in Home Internationals
Southerndown Golf Club
Ireland got off to a dream start in the Men's Home Internationals in Wales when they crushed Scotland 10-5 at Southerdown.
On a day when holders England — a team without several top players due to a clash with the US Amateur Championship — were held 7.5-7.5 by hosts Wales, Ireland are now red-hot favourites to win the title for the first time since that triumph at Muirfield in 2008.
Padraig Hogan's charges led 3-2 after the foursomes with Jack Hume and Gavin Moynihan, Colm Campbell and Chris Selfridge, and Paul Dunne and Gary Hurley all putting points on the board.
Dermot McElroy and Cormac Sharvin were beaten 3 and 2 by Daniel Young and Irish Amateur Open winner Jamie Savage while Stackstown's Richard Bridges and Faithlegg's Robin Dawson only fell at the 18th to Adam Dunton and Ross Craig.
However, Ireland were simply too strong in the singles, winning the sesson 7-3 with victories for Moynihan, Sharvin, McElroy, Campbell, Selfridge and Dunne and halves for Dawson and Hurley.
Jack Hume lost 3 and 2 to Matthew Clark while debutant John-Ross Galbraith came back from three down after six to just one behind with six to play before falling by 2 and 1 to Daniel Young.
Bridges was rested for the singles but gets his chance in both sessions against Wales on Thursday. (Thursday's draw - Ireland v Wales)
Dawson is rested for the afternoon which means that Irish Close champion Galbraith will get his chance against Ryan Davies with Bridges facing Jack Bush.
There is just one change of personnel for the foursomes with Galbraith coming into partner McElroy instead of Sharvin.
It was a positive day for Warrenpoint debutant Campbell, who won both his matches while Moynihan, Selfridge and Dunne also took full points with Hurley also unbeaten.
Men's Home Internationals, Southerndown GC, Wales
Day 1
England 7.5 - Wales 7.5
Ireland 10, Scotland 5
Foursomes
- Jack Hume and Gavin Moynihan bt Chris Robb and James Ross 3/2
- Dermot McElroy and Cormac Sharvin lost to Daniel Young and Jamie Savage 3/2
- Colm Campbell and Chris Selfridge bt Matthew Clark and Scott Gibson 4/3
- Richard Bridges and Robin Dawson lost to Adam Dunton and Craig Ross 1 hole
- Paul Dunne and Gary Hurley bt Jack McDonald and Graeme Robertson 3/2
Singles
- Moynihan bt Robb 2/1
- Sharvin bt Savage 1 hole
- McElroy bt James Ross 5/3
- John-Ross Galbraith lost to Young 2/1
- Jack Hume lost to Clark 3/2
- Cambell bt Scott Gibson 2/1
- Selfridge bt Greig Marchbank 3/2
- Dawson halved with Craig Ross
- Dunne bt McDonald 3/1
- Hurley halved with Robertson.
