Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt paid tribute to captain Rory Best at the end of a day which saw both make their final appearances at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Stephanie Meadow fired a three-under par during Thursday's opening day at the World Invitational Golf event being staged at Galgorm Castle and Massereene.
On a personal level the golf may not have gone the way Graeme McDowell would have wanted it to this week, but it did not dent his pride in the events unfolding on in Portrush.
You could forgive Graeme McDowell for feeling frustrated after a nightmare finish to his opening round at Royal Portrush left him on two-over for the day.
Shane Lowry might have carded his best ever opening round at a Major as he took the early clubhouse lead at Royal Portrush, but he admitted there was a few nerves about as he teed off this morning.
Former Open winner Padraig Harrington admitted it was not a good day for him after he carded a four-over par 75 in the opening round at Royal Portrush.
Amateur Championship winner James Sugrue admitted it was the 'most nervous he had even been' on a golf course when he accompanied Darren Clarke on to the first tee at Royal Portrush this morning.
The local golfing focus may be on the eagerly anticpated return of The Open Championship to Royal Portrush this summer, but at Ballymena Galgorm Spa and Golf Resort are preparing to make a little bit of history themselves.
Woodvale laid down a massive marker for their Robinson Services League Section One promotion credentials with a convincing 104-run victory over Derriaghy at Queensway on Saturday.
