Newly-crowned South of Ireland champion TJ Ford heads a stellar field for the 59th Mullingar Scratch Trophy this weekend.

The Rosses Point man (24) will have another chance to move up the Order of Merit in his quest for an Irish cap as he’s joined in an event sponsored by Sherry FitzGerald Davitt & Davitt and Pinergy by other leading lights for spots on the Home Internationals team.

Dun Laoghaire’s Alan Fahy, the runner-up at Lahinch, as well as reigning Connacht Strokeplay and North of Ireland champion Alex Maguire from Laytown & Bettystown will also be in action.

Reigning Irish Close champion Hugh Foley from Royal Dublin, 2020 Irish Boys winner Sam Murphy from Portumna and Royal Dublin’s Max Kennedy, the leading qualifier at the South, will also tee it up.

The 72-hole event begins on Sunday with the top 51 players after 36 holes qualifying for the final two rounds on Bank Holiday Monday.

Roganstown brothers Sean and Patrick Keeling will also be looking to make their mark while former Irish U16 Boys winner Adam Smith will represent the host club.

The list of formers winners includes many of the greats of Irish golf including inaugural winner Joe Carr (1963), Des Smyth (1972), Philip Walton (1982), Darren Clarke (1989), Pádraig Harrington (1994), Rory McIlroy (2006) and Shane Lowry (2008). See past winners

Sunningdale’s Killian McGinley, whose father Paul won in 1991, will be making his debut.

Former winners in the field include Portmarnock’s Geoff Lenehan and Massereene’s Tiarnan McLarnon.

Mullingar’s Adam Smith will be bidding to become the first home winner of the event.

A former Irish Under-16 Boys Champion, Smith is looking to create a little bit of club history, by lifting the title on Monday evening.

“Growing up as a junior player, you always want to be that guy that plays in the Scratch Trophy. Bar bringing a pennant back to the club, playing in the Scratch Trophy is one of the biggest things a Mullingar player can do. It’s an event you want to play in.

“Knowing the course will be an advantage, but I wouldn’t say it’s huge. It’s not like what members usually play throughout the year. If I was ever to pick an event to win, it’d be this one. It’s the one you want, and work towards it throughout the year.

“The course is in immaculate condition. People come and play it once, and always come back. It’s a real club event, and has that feel to it.”

59th Mullingar Scratch Trophy, Mullingar GC, Sunday-Monday, August 1-2

Detailed scores

06:30/11:30 Hugh Foley (Royal Dublin), Marc Boucher (Carton House), Jake Whelan (Grange)

06:40/11:40 Paul Conroy (Enniscorthy), John Cleary (Elm Park), Max Kennedy (Royal Dublin)

06:50/11:50 Peter O’Keeffe (Douglas), Alan Fahy (Dun Laoghaire), Jack Doherty (Carton House)

07:00/12:00 Ryan McNelis (Fintona), Andrew Hickey (Galway Bay), Sean O’Connell (Athenry)

07:10/12:10 Paul Coughlan (Castleknock), Alex Maguire Laytown & Bettystown), Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park)

07:20/12:20 Darragh Flynn (Carton House), Ross Latimer (Knock), Sam Murphy (Portumna)

07:30/12:30 Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock), David Reddan Jnr (Nenagh), Liam Nolan (Galway)

07:40/12:40 Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little), Luke O’Neill (Connemara), Stephen Cunningham (Esker Hills)

07:50/12:50 Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth), Robert Walsh Jnr (Douglas), Morgan Cain (Cork)

08:00/13:00 Alan Kiernan (Forrest Little), Lorcan O’Connor (Edmondstown), Joseph Byrne (Baltinglass)

08:10/13:10 Stephen Egan Jr. (Tullamore), Thomas Plunkett (Crover House)

08:20/13:20 Richard Knightly (Royal Dublin), Jordan Hood (Galgorm Castle), Aaron Ryan (Thurles)

08:30/13:30 Matthew Giles (Greenore), Matthew McClean (Malone), Fergal O’Sullivan (Tralee)

08:40/13:40 David Kitt (Athenry), Rory Milne (Faithlegg), Liam Abom (Edmondstown)

08:50/13:50 Sean Desmond (Monkstown), Adam Smith (Mullingar)

09:00/14:00 E Sullivan (Carton House), Thomas Finnegan (Co. Sligo), Killian McGinley (Sunningdale)

09:10/14:10 Ian Lynch (Rosslare), Charlie Denvir (Elm Park), Rory Williamson (Holywood)

09:20/14:20 Robert Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire), Joe Lyons (Galway), Sean Keeling (Roganstown)

09:30/14:30 Kyle McCarron (North West), Robert Cannon (Balbriggan), Jack Blake (The Island)

09:40/14:40 Chistopher Rabbette (Esker Hills), Conor Byrne (Strabane), Darren Leufer (Athenry)

09:50/14:50 Eoin Murphy (Dundalk), Scott O’Brien (Nenagh), Conor Hickey (Dooks)

10:00/15:00 TJ Ford (Co. Sligo), Eoin Marsden (Tullamore), Simon Walker (Roscommon)

10:10/15:10 Ryan O’Doherty (Enniscrone, Shane McDermott (Esker Hills), Senan Carroll (Ballybunion)

10:20/15:20 Gareth Bohill (Co. Louth), Aaron Grant (Dundalk), Ciaran Dunphy (Killeen Castle)

10:30/15:30 Darren O’Sullivan (Tralee), Charlie Kelly (Athlone), Fergal Kennedy (The Island)

10:40/15:40 Tom Dowdall (Woodbrook), Jake Rowe (Tandragee),

10:50/15:50 Aidan Kelly (The Heritage), Paul Costello (Galway), Paul Buckley (Cork)

11:00/16:00 David Shiel (Powerscourt), Evan Farrell (Ardee)

11:11/16:10 Sean Flanagan (Portmarnock), Colm Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint)

11:20/16:20 Cathal Butler (Kinsale), Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene)