The GUI's Willie Gill Order of Merit says Cormac Sharvin was Ireland's top amateur in 2015 and it's hard to argue with that given the Ardglass man's stellar play, culminating in that record-breaking Walker Cup win over the USA at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

Walker Cup stars Gavin Moynihan, Paul Dunne and Gary Hurley have left the amateur ranks to pursue their careers in the professional game but the same old questions remain with it comes to the make up of the Golfing Union of Ireland's panels for the coming season.

County Louth’s Thomas Mulligan and Royal Portrush’s Peter Kerr were the only Irish qualifiers for Thursday’s matchplay stages of the British Boys Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale and Southport and Ainsdale.

Ireland struggled as England and Scotland come out on top on day one at Boys Home Internationals in Wales.

He might have started the final day three shots off the pace but New Ross' Michael Ryan brilliantly birdied three of his last five holes for a magnificent three-shot victory in the Titleist Footjoy sponsored Leinster Boys Amateur Open at Balcarrick.

The Island's Kevin LeBlanc and County Louth's Thomas Mulligan came close to making the Irish Senior team for the Home Internationals. But after helping Leinster win the senior Interpros for the first time in seven years, they will lead a strong Irish Boys team in the Boys' Home Internationals in Wales next month.

Tandragee's William Small closed with a two under 70 to win the Munster Boys Amateur Open by five shots at Mallow Golf Club. 

Royal Portrush's Peter Kerr birdied two of his last three holes for fabulous four under par 69 and a two-shot win in the Ulster Boys Championship at Castlerock.

Portmarnock's Conor Purcell added a two under 71 to his opening 75 to lead the Ulster Boys Championship by two strokes at halfway at Castlerock.

An albatross two at the ninth hole propelled Perranporth's Chris Johnston into the lead at the Irish Youths Amateur Close Championship at Ardglass, writes the GUI.

Hermitage's Rowan Lester cruised into the matchplay stages of the British Boys Amateur Championship when finished tied for third behind Scots Calum Fyfe and Christopher Curran in strokeplay qualifying at Prestwick and Dundonald Links.

Hermitage’s Rowan Lester grabbed the first round lead in the Boys Amateur Championship with an even-par round of 72 at Dundonald Links.

Ireland will seek to defend the Boys Home Internationals trophy in the face of stiff competition at Western Gailes, writes the R&A.