It was a tough day for Munster golf as Muskerry and Douglas crashed out in their respective semi-finals of the AIG Cups and Shields National Finals at Carton House.

Reformed wildman Dustin Johnson spent the weekend in Dublin but it was birdies he was chasing not thrills and spills on the town.

Ireland might have won 10 of the 20 Irish Amateur Open Championships staged since it was revived in 1995 but while we once looked jealously to the overseas raiders, they now come to us hoping to add a notch to their collective belts.

The latest round of the RaboDirect sponsored Hilary Golf Society took place on Sunday last in The Royal Dublin Golf Club and produced a local one-two.

2129 — Co Sligo's Gary McDermott battled winds gusting up to 40mph to shoot a two over 74 and take a two shot lead over West of Ireland champion Jack Hume into the final round of the weather-delayed Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.

County Sligo's Gary McDermott birdied two of his last three holes to take a two-stroke lead over Scotland's Jamie Savage and the Isle of Man's Tom Gandy at the halfway stage of the Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.

Gary McDermott was the only player to break 70 on a day of attrition in the Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.

Recently-crowned West of Ireland champion Jack Hume will be among the home favourites looking to hold back an international invasion when the Irish Amateur Open begins at The Royal Dublin next Thursday, writes the GUI.