The West of Ireland Golf Championship, sponsored by Connolly Motor Group, is underway at County Sligo Golf Club in Rosses Point, with six Galway golfers in the field of 138. Conditions are extremely difficult for the opening round, with the top 64 players from the first two rounds of strokeplay qualifying for the matchplay rounds from Sunday. The six Galway golfers in the field include Sean Cloonan from Dunmore Demesne, a 5th Year student from Dunmore Community School, who is the first-ever golfer from his club to qualify for a major amateur Irish championship. Also included are Ballinasloe duo Ciarán Smyth and Niall Conneely, David Kitt from Athenry Golf Club, Luke O'Neill from Connemara and the experienced Eddie McCormack from Galway Bay. The West of Ireland Championship Roll of Honour makes for impressive reading, with the newly crowned Masters Champion Rory McIlroy famously winning back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006. Shane Lowry was the champion in 2008, and Rory McIlroy's caddie Harry Diomand won it in 2012 when he beat Stephen Healy from Claremorris in the final. 3-time major winner Padraig Harrington was the champion back in 1994, while the only Galway-based winner of the tournament was Offaly native Joe Lyons of Galway Golf Club back in 2007.
Luke O'Neill (Connemara) +4 after 10 holes
David Kitt (Athenry) 10.25 am
Ciaran Smyth (Ballinasloe) 11.50 am
Eddie McCormack (Galway Bay) 12.45 pm
Niall Conneely (Ballinasloe) 2 pm
Sean Cloonan (Dunmore Demesne) 2.40 pm
