Ireland off to mixed starts in European Amateur team championships

John Brady (Rosslare) made a positive start in the European Boys Team Championship. Picture by Pat Cashman

Ireland's Senior Men got off to a positive start in the European Amateur Team Championships in Austria.

They lie fourth on eight over par after the opening day at Diamond Country Club, ten strokes behind  England on eight over par.

England lead on by two shots on two under from Norway with Sweden a shot further back in third. Scores

John-Ross Galbraith, Stuart Grehan and Paul McBride shot level par 72s to share 13th in the individual standings behind Sweden's Tim Widing (68) with Conor O'Rourke (75-T33), Robin Dawson (77-T54) and Colm Campbell (79-T69-discarded) the other scores.

It was a tougher day for the women in the European Ladies' Team Championship at Montado Golf Resort in Portugal as they ended the opening day four shots outside the top flight in 12th. Scores

Irish Close champion Paula Grant and Irish Strokeplay champion Maria Dunne shot one-under 71s to share 22nd in the individual standings with Olivia Mehaffey (72), Chloe Ryan (78) and Sinead Sexton (83) the other scores.

However, Ireland's Girls team is seventh at St. Laurence Golf in Finland. Scores

Lauren Walsh led the way with a two-under 70 with Annabel Wilson (72), Sara Byrne and Mairead Martin (75s), Valerie Clancy (77) and Rachel Thompson (79) rounding out the scoring. Scores

On their return to Division One in the European Boys Team Championship at La Manga's South Course in Spain, Ireland lie eighth after the opening round. Scores

Rosslare's John Brady is just two shots off the lead after an opening 70 with Jack Hearn (74), Reece Black (76), Mark Power (77), Cameron Raymond (78) and Robert Moran (85) the other scores on a mixed day. Scores

All four teams must finish in the top eight after today's second qualifying round to make the top flight and opt for the title.