The Mullingar Sherry Fitzgerald Davitt & Davitt Scratch Trophy is set for August 10-11 and it carries even more prestige this year as part of the Bridgestone Order of Merit schedule.

An association between Leinster Golf and Mullingar Golf Club has been formally agreed and a committee comprising Mullingar Golf Club members and Leinster Golf officials will administer the tournament and the course set up for one of Irish golf's best-loved events.

Entries are being taken online through golfnet.ie with entry fees collected by the Golfing Union of Ireland and recouped to Mullingar Golf Club.

The entry fee is €60 and the closing date for entries will be on Sunday, 14 July.

First played in 1963, when the great Joe Carr lifted the silver trophy, international Tiarnán McLarnon from Massereene will be trying to become only the second player since Peter Townsend in 1966 to successfully defend the trophy and join the former Porters Park player, New Ross' Martin O'Brien (1971, '76), Co Louth's Mark Gannon (1971, '81) and Athlone's Colm Moriarty (2001, '03) on the exclusive list of two-time winners.