Iceland next up for Ireland

Following a 3-2 win over Portugal, Ireland will face Iceland in their bid to finish ninth in the European Amateur Team Championships at Conwy in Wales.

At the pointy end of the tournament, Norway, England, Scotland and Italy made it through to the semi-finals.

The Scots and Norwegians both came back from 2-0 deficits in the morning foursomes to beat Sweden and Finland respectively. England beat France 4.5 to 2.5 and Italy ousted Germany 5.5 to 1.5

As for Ireland, they should not underestimate the Icelanders, who beat hosts Wales 3-2.

Their dangermen are Olafur Loftsson and Sigmundur Masson, ranked 1,200th and 2,210th respectively in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Which begs the question: Do the World Amateur Golf Rankings count for much?

Looking at the rankings of the members of the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup squad, it will be interesting to see how the captain, Colin Dalgleish, and his selectors make up the ten-man side to face the USA at Merion in September.

Based purely on the current rankings, Simon Ward and Niall Kearney are amongst the top 10 British or Irish players available. Will they make the team?

Great Britain & Ireland (Players in bold not in squad)

Sam Hutsby (Liphook) 4

Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) 15

Chris Paisley (Stocksfield) 18

Luke Goddard (Hendon) 22

Simon Ward (Co Louth) 37

Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall) 43

Stiggy Hodgson 45

Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) 48

Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park) 51

Matthew Nixon 80

Tom Sherreard (Chart Hills) 88

Wallace Booth (Comrie) 91

Todd Adcock (Nevill) 96

Ross Kellett 105

Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes) 110

Nigel Edwards (Whitchurch) 118

Rhys Enoch (Truro) 125

Darren Renwick 132

Paul Cutler (Portstewart) 140

Alan Dunbar (Rathmore) 150

James Byrne 160

Charlie Ford (Kirby Muxloe) 161

James Robinson 166

Ben Rickett 177

Mark Hillson 178

Paul O’Hara (Colville Park) 192

Seamus Power 202

Jamie Abbott 214

Ben Westgate (Trevose) 230

Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 240

Steven McEwan (Caprington) 249

Steven Uzzell (Hornsea) 251

Billy Hemstock 276

Jason Barnes 283

Scott Borrowman 284

Glenn Campbell 285

Tom Lewis 286

Darren Wright 290

Paul O'Kane 297

Jake Amos 299

Andrew Cooley 318

James White 340

Eddie Pepperell (Drayton Park) 342

Farren Keenan 349

Lewis Kirton 376

Philip McLean 386

Cian Curley 393

Jack Senior 402

Jack Bartlett 411

Alex Hogben 413

Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) 421

Greg Paterson 423

Gordon Yates (Hilton Park) 426

Dara Lernihan (Castle) 434