Sunday’s win by Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans came just three days after a historic gathering of former West of Ireland champions at County Sligo and put into context the massive contribution of that championship to Irish golf over the past 100 years.

Five years after he lost the South of Ireland final, Kildare man Keith Egan buried his demons to deny local hero David Brady and claim the Connolly Motor Group-sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Rosses Point.

County Sligo’s David Brady birdied the sixth tie hole to beat Castleknock's Paul Coughlan and set up a clash with Carton House’s Keith Egan in this afternoon’s final of the West of Ireland Championship.

He might be playing out of Straffan but County Sligo’s David Brady dares to dream of a home win after mounting an epic comeback to beat hot favourite Matt McClean on the 19th and keep his West of Ireland Championship dream alive at Rosses Point.

Hopes of a home winner remain intact after a day when some big names fell and several stalwarts advanced to join some perennial hopefuls in the West of Ireland Amateur Championship at Rosses Point.

Castkeknock’s Mark Doogue surprised himself by leading the qualifiers in the West of Ireland Championship but he’s keen to keep his dream run going in the matchplay stages at Rosses Point.

The starter talked the rookies through it all on the first tee, then sent them off with the happy rejoinder — “This is tropical, lads!”

Mobile phone lights, torches and buggy headlights were the order of the day as Edmonstown’s Patrick Curran parred the 22nd in total darkness to complete the qualifiers for the 101st West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point.

Promising English golfer James Claridge claimed the first prize on offer this week as he took home the Pat Ruddy Perpetual Trophy for the leading amateur at the Connolly’s Audi West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship.

Letterkenny golfer Cian Harkin hit a phenomenal 68 to take the solo lead in 54-hole qualifying for the Connolly’s Audi West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship after two rounds.

County Sligo Golf Club is expecting a bumper entry for the 100th-anniversary staging of the Connolly Motor Group-sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open Centenary Championship from April 7-11.

April is the cruellest month, the poet said, but it proved joyful for Bray's Alan Fahy as his hard work and patience paid off with victory in the Connolly's Audi West of Ireland Championship at County Sligo's stunning Rosses Point links.

Connacht won the men's interprovincials last year and the depth in talent west of the Shannon was very much in evidence at Rosses Point yesterday as three men from the west battled their way into the semi-finals of the Connolly's Audi West of Ireland Championship.

Dundalk’s Caolan Rafferty topped the qualifiers in the Connolly’s Audi West of Ireland Championship but the jury is out on the new format for the opening amateur major of the season.

Rosses Point bared its fangs as a southerly wind gusting over 30 mph at times sent scores soaring in the second qualifying round for the Connolly's Audi West of Ireland Amateur Open at County Sligo.

Dundalk's Caolan Rafferty proved the old adage that form is fleeting but class is permanent when he took advantage of excellent first-round conditions to open with a six-under 65 in the Connolly's Audi sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Championship at County Sligo's Rosses Point Links.

Hugh Foley might have etched his name alongside the Irish greats by adding last year's West of Ireland title to his win in the 2020 Irish Close, but he's determined to tick a few more boxes over the next 18 months before he even dreams of turning professional.

Charleville's Jordan Boles took advantage of perfect scoring conditions to top the qualifiers for the Connolly's Audi sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Championship at County Sligo.

County Sligo's famous Rosses Point Links will host the 99th West of Ireland Amateur Championship in two weeks, and the club has achieved a major coup by attracting a new sponsor in Connolly's Audi for the April 15-19 classic.

Peter O’Keeffe won three events - the AIG Irish Close, the Munster Strokeplay and the Flogas Irish Amateur Open — and claimed the Bridgestone Order of Merit after a tremendous 2021. But who topped the stroke averages in Irish amateur golf?

Royal Dublin’s Hugh Foley put on a ball-striking clinic to open up a seven-shot lead before two closing bogeys for a five-under 66 left him five clear of Castleknock’s Paul Coughlan heading into the final round of the West of Ireland Championship at County Sligo.