Schoolboy Dylan Holmes overcame apocalyptic weather conditions to become the youngest winner of the West of Ireland Championship since Rory McIlroy in 2006.

Stuart Grehan powered his way into the semi-finals of the Connolly Motor Group-sponsored West of Ireland Championship and confessed he has one eye on making next year's Walker Cup at Lahinch.

Portmarnock’s James Fox continued his remarkable comeback from wrist surgery to clinch a surprise spot in the last 16 of the Connolly Motor Group-sponsored West of Ireland Championship.

Leading qualifier Robert Abernethy has a full set of clothes with him this time as he dreams of going all the way in the Connolly Motor Group-sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open at a rain-soaked Rosses Point.

Roscommon's Simon Walker overcame a windchill factor of minus two and 50kph gusts to grab the first-round lead in the Connolly Motor Group-sponsored West of Ireland Championship.

Competitors will face an improved County Sligo in the West of Ireland Amateur Open from April 18-22.

County Sligo Golf Club has announced that Connolly Motor Group will continue to sponsor the West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship for the next three years.

Sunday’s win by Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans came just three days after a historic gathering of former West of Ireland champions at County Sligo and put into context the massive contribution of that championship to Irish golf over the past 100 years.

Five years after he lost the South of Ireland final, Kildare man Keith Egan buried his demons to deny local hero David Brady and claim the Connolly Motor Group-sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Rosses Point.

County Sligo’s David Brady birdied the sixth tie hole to beat Castleknock's Paul Coughlan and set up a clash with Carton House’s Keith Egan in this afternoon’s final of the West of Ireland Championship.

He might be playing out of Straffan but County Sligo’s David Brady dares to dream of a home win after mounting an epic comeback to beat hot favourite Matt McClean on the 19th and keep his West of Ireland Championship dream alive at Rosses Point.

Hopes of a home winner remain intact after a day when some big names fell and several stalwarts advanced to join some perennial hopefuls in the West of Ireland Amateur Championship at Rosses Point.

Castkeknock’s Mark Doogue surprised himself by leading the qualifiers in the West of Ireland Championship but he’s keen to keep his dream run going in the matchplay stages at Rosses Point.

The starter talked the rookies through it all on the first tee, then sent them off with the happy rejoinder — “This is tropical, lads!”

Mobile phone lights, torches and buggy headlights were the order of the day as Edmonstown’s Patrick Curran parred the 22nd in total darkness to complete the qualifiers for the 101st West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point.

Promising English golfer James Claridge claimed the first prize on offer this week as he took home the Pat Ruddy Perpetual Trophy for the leading amateur at the Connolly’s Audi West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship.

Letterkenny golfer Cian Harkin hit a phenomenal 68 to take the solo lead in 54-hole qualifying for the Connolly’s Audi West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship after two rounds.

County Sligo Golf Club is expecting a bumper entry for the 100th-anniversary staging of the Connolly Motor Group-sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open Centenary Championship from April 7-11.

April is the cruellest month, the poet said, but it proved joyful for Bray's Alan Fahy as his hard work and patience paid off with victory in the Connolly's Audi West of Ireland Championship at County Sligo's stunning Rosses Point links.

Connacht won the men's interprovincials last year and the depth in talent west of the Shannon was very much in evidence at Rosses Point yesterday as three men from the west battled their way into the semi-finals of the Connolly's Audi West of Ireland Championship.

Dundalk’s Caolan Rafferty topped the qualifiers in the Connolly’s Audi West of Ireland Championship but the jury is out on the new format for the opening amateur major of the season.

Rosses Point bared its fangs as a southerly wind gusting over 30 mph at times sent scores soaring in the second qualifying round for the Connolly's Audi West of Ireland Amateur Open at County Sligo.