The draw for the two strokeplay qualifying rounds of South of Ireland Championship has been released and while every effort has been made to strengthen the field, few can argue that it is stronger than it was in previous years.

While the event has been brought forward a few days, starting on a Wednesday and finishing on Sunday and with the Interprovincial Matches finishing two weeks before it starts, it was hoped that more of our top players would take part. 

It hasn't worked out that way with the elite players clearly .

Of the Top 100 Irish players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), 48 have opted not to take part. The stay aways include Big Six — Cormac Sharvin, Gary Hurley, Jack Hume, Gavin Moynihan, Paul Dunne and Dermot McElroy — as well as 10 of the Top 16. (See list below)

The handicap cut off for entry was 1.1 (not all 1.1s getting in) with reserves up to 1.5. But while there will he disappointment that the change of format to stroke play qualifying followed by six rounds of match play has not born fruit this year in terms of attracting more of our better players, there are still places in the Irish team for September's Home Internationals up for grabs and some quality players taking part.

Leinster's Paul McBride and Eanna Griffin — the top two points scorers in the recent Interpros — with Robin Dawson, Colm Campbell Jnr, Gary McDermott, Richard Bridges, Geoff Lenehan, Conor O'Rourke and Pat Murray all gunning for that precious trophy.

Rosslare's Gary Collins, off plus four, is the low man in the field but the fact that world No 358 Stuart Grehan is the highest ranked player explains why all the top players have decided to stay away.

What can be done to improve the field? It's not an easy question to answer and while there are those who believe a change of date to late in the season might help, there is little appetite in Lahinch for a move just now.

What is clear is that the course remains one of the classic tests and while it deserves a champion commensurate with its history, maintaining its elite status is becoming more difficult every year.

SOUTH OF IRELAND AMATEUR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

Strokeplay qualifying 22-23 July 2015, Lahinch Golf Club

1 07.00 11.20 Eoghan Long (Monsktown) David McMahon (Tralee) James Monaghan (The Royal Dublin) 

2 07.10 11.30 Paul O’Neill (Shannon) Dylan Brophy (Castle Knock) Scott Campbell (Ballyclare) 

3 07.20 11.40 Conor Coyne (Yougal) Eoghan O’Donnell (Tralee) David Finn (Doneraile) 

4 07.30 11.50 Robert Farrell (New Ross) Kevin Power (Kilkenny) Michael Reddan (Limerick) 

5 07.40 12.00 Shane Whooley (Muskerry) Barry Reddan (Co Louth) Peter Meaney (Cahir Pk) 

6 07.50 12.10 Sean Alley (Co Tipperary) Daniel Brennan (Shannon) William Hanna (Kilkeel) 

7 08.00 12.30 Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West) Mark Morrisse (Mount Wolseley) Michael O’Kelly (Limerick) 

8 08.10 12.40 John Greene (Portmarnock) Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin) Kyle McCarron (North West) 

9 08.20 12.50 Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle) Simon Bryan (Delgany) Mathew Kane (Whitehead) 

10 08.30 13.00 Michael Buggy (Castlecomer) Barry Daly (Edmondstown) Eddie Power (Kilkenny) 

11 08.50 13.10 John Hickey (Cork) Dan Murphy (Portarlington) Karl Purcell (Dun Laoghaire) 

12 09.00 13.20 Paul Buckley (Kanturk/Australia) Colm Crowley (Woodbrook) Gerard Dunne (Co Louth) 

13 09.10 13.30 Ian Spillane (Mallow) Dean McMahon (Castletroy) Greg Mungoven (Headfort) 

14 09.20 13.40 Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) John Conroy (Bray) Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) 

15 09.30 13.50 Gavin McKenna (Fortwilliam) Tiarnan McLarnon (Masserene) Conor O’Rourke (Naas) 

16 09.40 14.00 Pat Murray (Limerick) Barry Anderson (The Royal Dublin) Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle) 

17 09.50 14.20 Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park) Paul McBride (The Island) Tony Cleary (Woodstock) 

18 10.00 14.30 Eanna Griffin (Waterford) Geoffrey Lenehan (Portmarnock) Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) 

19 10.10 14.40 Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin) Keith Egan (Carton House) Rowan Lester (Hermitage)

20 10.20 14.50 Gavin Smyth (Clonmel) Ronan Mullarney (Galway) Des Morgan (New Forest) 

21 10.40 15.00 Shane Hogan (Nenagh) Seamus Cullen (Slieve Russell) Mark Mullen (Rosslare) 

22 10.50 15.10 Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) Paul McCarthy (Mallow) Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) 

23 11.00 15.20 Robert Cannon (Balbriggan) Ben Corfee (USA) Shane McGlynn (Carton House) 

24 11.10 15.30 Gary O’Flaherty (Cork) Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin) Stephen Watts (Cairndhu) 

25 11.20 15.40 Keith Daniels (Loughrea) Ryan Long (Cairndhu) Mark MacGrath (Limerick) 

26 11.30 15.50 Declan McInerney (Lahinch) James Sugrue (Mallow) David Ryan (Grange) 

27 11.40 07.00 Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint) Daniel Hallissey (Muskerry) Liam Hutchinson (The Royal Dublin) 

28 11.50 07.10 Keith Murphy (Charlesland) Philip Spratt (West Waterford) Pat Fitzpatrick (Kanturk) 

29 12.00 07.20 Robert Brazill (Naas) Dale Jackson (Massereene) Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu) 

30 12.10 07.30 Eoghan O’Loughlin (Spanish Pt) Paul O’Sullivan (Bray) Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud) 

31 12.30 07.40 Ross Dutton (Tandragee) Declan King (Tramore) Jamie O’Shea (Shannon) 

32 12.40 07.50 Gary Collins (Rosslare) Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) Robin Dawson (Faithlegg) 

33 12.50 08.00 Colm Campbell jnr (Warrenpoint) Gary McDermott (Carton House) Richard Bridges (Stackstown) 

34 13.00 08.10 Daniel Holland (Castle) Thomas O’Connor (Athlone) Colin Fairweather (Knock) 

35 13.10 08.20 Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little) Daniel Coyle (Portmarnock) Graham Nugent (Kilkenny) 

36 13.20 08.30 Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe) Sean Doyle (Athlone) Darragh Hogan (Killeen Castle) 

37 13.30 08.50 Stephen Healy (Carton House) Eugene Smith (Ardee) Liam Grehan (Mullingar/NUIM) 

38 13.40 09.00 Jake Whelan (Newlands) Jonathon Breen (Kirkistown Castle) Robbie Pierse (Grange) 

39 13.50 09.10 Justin Kehoe (Limerick) Steffan O’Hara (Co Sligo) Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion) 

40 14.00 09.20 Cian Geraghty (Laytown/B’town) Tom Griffin (England) Aaron Moore (Adare Manor) 

41 14.20 09.30 David Foy (Laytown/B’town) Paul Murphy (Rosslare) Rory Williamson (Holywood) 

42 14.30 09.40 Stephen Barker (Mourne) Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire) Fergal Deasy (Cork) 

43 14.40 09.50 Matthew McClean (Balmoral) Kelan McDonagh (The Royal Dublin) Darragh Smith (Castle)

44 14.50 10.00 Stephen Walsh (Portmarnock) Tommy O’Driscoll (Killarney) Thomas Neenan (Lahinch)

45 15.00 10.10 Gary McGrane (The Royal Dublin) Marc Nolan (Delgany) David Reddan jnr (Nenagh)

46 15.10 10.20 John Reynolds (Dungarvan) Sean Walsh (Carton House/NUIM) Alexander Purdy (Ballyclare) 

47 15.20 10.40 Ross Kenny (Millicent) Jason O’Leary (Dromoland Castle) Joe Lyons (Galway) 

48 15.30 10.50 Owen O’Brien (Limerick) Eoin O’Connor (Ballybunion) Tony O’Leary (Wexford) 

49 15.40 11.00 Paul Behan (St Annes) Adam Doran (Ardee) Jack Walsh (Castle) 

50 15.50 11.10 Sean Poucher (Limerick) Edward Stack (Ballybunion) Evan Farrell (Ardee) 

Reserves 
1 Michael Horan (Birr) 
2 Alan Purcell (Adare Manor) 
3 Mark Timmins (Coollattin) 
4 Ronan O’Grady (Tullamore) 
5 Karl McCormack (Portarlington) 
6 Ronan Mullane (Dromoland Castle) 
7 Cathal Nolan (Galway) 
8 Peter Kane (Ashbourne) 
9 Nicholas Duggan (Dromoland Castle) 
10 Tristan O’Rourke (Nenagh) 
11 Eric Byrne (Birr) 
12 Darragh Flynn (Carton House) 
13 Stefan Greenberg (Tandragee) 
14 Alastair McQuillian (Cushendall) 
15 Ruairi O’Connor (Co Sligo) 
16 Ryan O’Doherty (Enniscrone) 
17 David O’Driscolll (Ballybunion) 
18 Brian Gilligan (Woodstock) 
19 Darren O’Sullivan (Tralee) 
20 Jonathan Greer (Greenisland) 
21 Bob Loftus (Lahinch) 
22 John Richard (France) 
23 Alan Harrington (Cork)

WAGR Check

Who’s staying away

20    19    -1    Cormac Sharvin        48    1181.25
28    29    +1    Gary Hurley        54    1112.50
48    47    -1    Jack Hume        51    1061.15
57    56    -1    Gavin Moynihan        49    1047.96
81    79    -2    Paul Dunne        54    993.06
139    143    +4    Dermot McElroy        51    931.70
441    445    +4    Kevin Leblanc        33    801.52
528    526    -2    John-Ross Galbraith        48    777.86
677    674    -3    Alexander Wilson    42    745.24
711    709    -2    Alex Gleeson        44    739.39
956    964    +8    Jonathan Yates        26    686.31
969    972    +3    Sean Flanagan        35    684.29
2068    2054    -14    Stuart Winsby        39    466.67
2042    2028    -14    Aaron Grant        20    471.43
2069    2055    -14    Eddie McCormack    18    466.07
2073    2059    -14    Jordan Hood        21    464.29
2084    2069    -15    Eoin Leonard        33    463.64
2140    2471    +331Owen Crooks        29    452.59
2453    2451    -2    Thomas Mulligan    18    385.71
2551    2548    -3    Declan Loftus        19    370.54
2631    2625    -6    Mark Shanahan        14    357.14
2814    2811    -3    Caolan Rafferty        12    325.00
2863    2851    -12    Maurice Kelly        12    318.75
2892    2882    -10    Adrian Morrow        15    314.29
2920    2905    -15    Eoin Arthurs        12    310.71
2960    2939    -21    Ben Best            12    304.91
3124    3117    -7    Joe Crangle        15    275.00
3451    3442    -9    Ryan McKinstry        17    228.57
3467    3459    -8    Eamonn Haugh        9    227.68
3467    3459    -8    Simon Miskelly        9    227.68
3550    3542    -8    James Fox            10    217.86
3612    3604    -8    Michael Sinclair        9    210.71
3631    3622    -9    Tony McClements    12    209.82
3659    4109    +450Alan Fahy            14    206.25
3669    3660    -9    Mark Collins        11    203.57
3753    3742    -11    Alan Condren        9    192.86
3854    3846    -8    Ryan Gribben        12    182.14
3991    3973    -18    Ian O’Rourke        7    167.86
3991    4126    +135Matthew Fitzsimons    16    167.86
4121    4109    -12    Jamie Dunne        10    156.25
4213    3884    -329    Jamie Knipe        21    146.43
4213    4204    -9    Timothy Jordan        10    146.43
4263    4252    -11    Darragh Coghlan    5    142.86
4388    4383    -5    Connor Doran        5    133.48
4565    4569    +4    Keagan Cummings    8    117.86
4667    4664    -3    William Russell        7    110.71
4708    4703    -5    David Mulholland    4    107.14
4757    -    -    Peter Kerr            4    103.57

Who’s playing

358    357    -1    Stuart Grehan        37    827.25 
461    462    +1    Robin Dawson        47    797.34
479    482    +3    Richard Bridges        47    790.96
583    581    -2    Conor O'Rourke        30    765.83
596    592    -4    Colm Campbell        44    763.64
598    593    -5    Paul McBride        45    763.61
769    768    -1    Gareth Lappin        44    727.27
990    995    +5    Daniel Holland        36    677.20
1077    1081    +4    Eanna Griffin        30    660.00
1115    1117    +2    Geoff Lenehan        25    651.79
1323    1324    +1    Alan Lowry        28    610.71
1347    1353    +6    Ronan Mullarney    32    606.25
1382    1387    +5    Stephen Watts        34    600.49
1595    1593    -2    Tommy O'Driscoll    40    558.12
1846    1830    -16    Kyle McCarron        24    510.71
1868    1850    -18    Stuart Bleakley        23    507.14
1955    1945    -10    Joseph Lyons        21    488.39
2020    2007    -13    Shaun Carter        18    475.00
2073    2059    -14    Colin Fairweather    16    464.29
2073    2059    -14    Tiarnan McLarnon    21    464.29
2093    2084    -9    Eugene Smith        22    460.71
2168    2156    -12    Jack Pierse        18    446.43
2195    2186    -9    Matthew McClean    20    441.96
2341    2322    -19    Jeffrey Hopkins        15    411.31
2390    2380    -10    Gary Collins        15    399.11
2413    2406    -7    Rowan Lester        9    394.64
2535    2531    -4    Shane McGlynn        23    371.43
2535    2531    -4    William Hanna        17    371.43
2600    2598    -2    Gary O'Flaherty        13    360.71
2617    2612    -5    Stephen Healy        14    359.82
2756    2749    -7    Robert Cannon        15    338.39
2784    2777    -7    Sean Ryan            23    332.14
2844    2840    -4    John Hickey        13    321.43
2941    2923    -18    Paul McCarthy        11    308.04
2944    2926    -18    Richard Knightly        18    307.14
3005    2987    -18    Jack Walsh        16    296.43
3023    3006    -17    Simon Bryan        14    292.86
3171    3173    +2    Gary McDermott    10    266.96
3272    3274    +2    Matthew Kane        13    250.00
3353    3349    -4    Barry Anderson        8    241.96
3418    3414    -4    Pat Murray            8    232.14
3486    3478    -8    Daniel Brennan        19    225.00
3612    3604    -8    Niall Gorey        10    210.71
3631    3622    -9    Steffan O'Hara        11    209.82
3669    3660    -9    Conor Coyne        16    203.57
4298    4293    -5    Stephen Walsh        8    139.29
4347    4337    -10    Greg Mungovan        5    135.71
4610    4610    -    Paul Murphy        6    116.07
4667    4664    -3    Des Morgan        5    110.71
4708    4703    -5    Kelan McDonagh    6    107.14
4757    4753    -4    Jamie Sutherland    3    103.57
4810    4801    -9    John Greene        6    100.00