STEVE RICHARDSON made a long overdue return to form in the £250,000 West of Ireland Classic in Galway Bay yesterday.

After a nightmare season on the Volvo European PGA Tour in which he has made just one cut, the 32-year-old Lee-on-Solent ace had the leaders in his sights after the first round of this new event.

The West of Ireland incorporates players from the main Volvo Tour and the secondary Challenge Tour, and Richardson's form has been so poor this year, that the invites on to the main tour have started to dry up.

He needs to start climbing the Volvo rankings again fast, and a two-under-par 70 yesterday put him just three shots off the pace.

Rico's big Salisbury buddie Gary Emerson, meanwhile, was continuing his fine run of form.

Two weeks ago at the K Club in Dublin, Emerson guaranteed keeping his European card for next year with a sixth-place finish. In Galway Bay, he knows he can challenge for victory and a four-under-par 68 gave him a share of third place going into today's second round.

The lucrative tournament is vital to Hampshire players like Matt Blackey, Scott Watson, Richard Bland and Justin Rose who need to pocket a big prize to move within striking distance of the Challenge Tour's Top 15.

That's where they need to be at the end of the sea-son to gain an exemption on to the Volvo Tour, and Blackey and Rose began to make moves in the right direction.

Hayling Islander Blackey was on the same two-under mark as Richardson while Rose capitalised on a late entry into the tournament with a one-under 71.

At first the teenager from Hook feared he had missed out on a place in Ireland after failing to achieve a top-ten finish in last week's Beazer Homes Challenge Tour Championship at Bowood.

That would have given Rose automatic entry into The Classic, but his joint 11th place finish eventually proved enough with the youngster get-ting in as third alternate.

Marchwood-based Stoneham tournament professional Bland needed a big improvement today after shooting a 74. Watson, among the late starters, came in with a one under 71.

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