Paul Dunne, who won for the first time on the US collegiate circuit this week, during the final round of the East of Ireland. Picture: Thos Caffrey / www.golffile.ieGreystones’ Paul Dunne held off Moyola Park’s Chris Selfridge to win his maiden US collegiate tournament in Maryland on Monday.

And then there were four.

Stephen Grant, Barrie Trainor, Brian McElhinney,Michael Lavelle were the only Irishmen to survive the 54-hole cut as the axe fell at the First Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School (Section A).

Dreams of winning a European Tour are over for another year for Noel Fox and his brother James, Alan Murray, Ulstermen Byron Campbell and Adam Savage, Neil O Briain, Ger Hall and Danny Sugrue.

Talk about a bad day at the office.

Stephen GrantAs PQ1 (Section A) reached the halfway stage at four venues in England, Scotland, Portugal and Denmark, all 12 Irish hopefuls are outside the qualifying places.

Barrie Trainor is the best of the bunch but a second round 78 at Dundonald Links relegated the Warrenpoint man from fifth to tied 23rd,  one stroke outside the top 20 who will progress to stage two from that venue after four rounds.

Barrie Trainor got his bid for a European Tour card off to a flying start when he opened with a two under par 70 in the First Stage of the Qualifying School at Dundonald Links in Scotland.

Walker Cup player Niall Kearney is one of 37 Irishmen who have entered the first stage of the European Tour Qualifying School later this month.

The 21-year old Royal Dublin amateur will tee it up in a 115-man field at Fleesensee Golf and Country Club near Berlin from September 22-25 alongside Justin Brink and fellow South of Ireland champions Mark Campbell and Mervyn Owens.

Kearney is one of six Irish amateurs amongst the 749 hopefuls who will begin their bids of European Tour cards at stage one. The others are Ulstermen Byron Campbell and Ruairi McGee, Newlands’ Irish international Cian Curley, Royal Dublin’s Neil O Briain and Portmarnock’s James Fox.

Portstewart’s Paul Cutler, who was disappointed not to make the Walker Cup side this year, has not entered.

Richard Kilpatrick doesn't get many chances to strut his stuff on the Challenge Tour but he took full advantage of a rare start at the Credit Suisse Challenge in Switzerland.

Reggie and friendsPlaying on a sponsor's invitation, the 27-year old from Banbridge compiled a bogey free, four under par 69 to share sixth place behind leaders Stuart Davis and Simon Robinson of England.

Starting on the 10th at Wylihof Golf Club near Luterbach in the north of the country, the 2007 East of Ireland champion birdied the 11th before finishing with three birdies on his homeward nine.

Gareth Shaw was the only Irishman to make the cut in the Challenge Tour's Kärten Golf Open in Austria.

Peter O'Keeffe fired a brilliant 68 and Simon Thornton a second successive 70 to keep Welshman Stuart Manley in their sights at the halfway mark of the Telenet Trophy at Royal Waterloo.

Gareth Shaw continued his solid start to the Challenge Tour season when he finished tied 31st in the Tusker Kenya Open.

Lurgan's Gareth Shaw is the best of the Irish entering the final round of the Challenge Tour's Tusker Kenya Open.

Alan Murray is the best of the Irish at the halfway stage of the Tusker Kenya Open.

Alan Murray produced a remarkable second round comeback when he fired a brilliant six-under par 66 to make the cut in the Challenge Tour's Club Colombia Masters.

Lurgan's Gareth Shaw made a strong start to his Challenge Tour campaign when he opened with a fine 69 in the Club Colombia Masters in Bogota.

An untidy finish forced Alan Murray to settle for a share of second place in the The Brooks Brothers 2008 Classic on the PGA Europro Tour.