Ireland start third day of play in World Amateur Team Championship in Japan in joint 18th

Ireland are still in contention in the World Amateur Team Championship for the Eisenhower Trophy in Japan but have work to do over the next couple of days if they are to challenge strongly for honours.

They start the third day’s play at Karuizawa in joint 18th place on 276, eight strokes behind clear leaders Argentina who are one ahead of Sweden, Switzerland and the USA.

West Waterford's European Championship bronze medallist Gary Hurley is so far the star of the Irish team as he has carded rounds of 69 on the Iriyama course and 68 yesterday on the Oshitate course.

Hurley who produced some excellent golf in helping Ireland lift the Home International crown in Wales last month was steady yesterday dropping a stroke at just one hole - the 343-yard 16th.

He had three birdies in the last six holes to help him to his second sub-70 round of the week.

Dubliner Gavin Moynihan has had rounds of 69 and 70 while Paul Dunne who qualified for the British Open in July has compiled two scores of 70.

Play had to be suspended for an hour during the second round due to thunder and lightning but when it resumed the halfway stage of the tournament was reached before dusk came.

While all three Irishmen have been in solid form this week the standard of play has been so high that they are finding it difficult to move up the leaderboard.;

Thirty-five of the 67 teams have posted sub par totals after 36 hioles and there were 63 sub par scores in round two beating the record of 45 in South Africa in 2006.