John Murphy (Kinsale) shot a level par 72 on the opening day of the European Boy’s Team Championships today.  The competition is taking place in Czech Republic and Murphy was one of the later starters this morning and opened with birdie.  He had three bogies on the front nine  but turned on +1, two birdies and a bogey on the back nine meant that he signed for a level par 72 to lie in 5th place.  It was a very good day for Ireland, Kevin leBlanc holds the lead on -4 and all six Irish golfers are in the top 20.  Tomorrow will be an important day for the Irish, the second round of strokeplay qualifying will determine the matchplay draws with the top four countries playing-off for the Championship title.

Cork Golf Club put up a strong battle today against Warrenpoint, losing out on the 18th green in their Barton Shield semi-final.  In a very tight match, Cork were just one or two holes adrift of the Ulster champions.  Cork came back into into it in on the back nine after the deficit stretched to three, and they pulled it back to a single hole.  Warrenpoint had the advantage when Colm Campbell and Stephen Coutler were one up on John Hickey and Paul Tobin going onto the final hole.  The Warrenpoint pair held their lead and now advance to tomorrow’s final against Galway.  Both Monkstown and Muskerry will practice tomorrow in advance of their semi-final matches on Friday.