Last week he played another European Challenge Tour event in Northern Ireland, a unique event with 156 players competing in three qualifying rounds, before a series of six-hole, head-to-head stroke play matches on the final day.

McCarthy, who recently qualified for the British Open, opened with rounds of 71 and 68 to be 18th outright, but a three over par third round of 74 put him in 62nd and outside the final cut.

Play gets underway in Fiji on Thursday and the $1.5 million prizemoney has attracted a quality field including three former US Masters champions Vijay Singh, Angel Cabrera and Mike Weir along with New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, and a host of Aussies including Scott Hend and Brett Rumford.

Former Tasmanian Corey Crawford is also in the field.  

After the Fiji event, McCarthy returns to another European Challenge Tour event in Switzerland at the Golf Club de Genevre.

Golf Tasmania has announced the composition of its Home High Performance squads who will be training with coaches in each region.

These are players who have made their own application to be included.

In the North-West Darren Spencer will be coaching Jack Lakin of Stanley and Joel Lunson of Devonport.

The North will see nine players working under Bryce Gorham – George Town’s Will Bancroft, Deloraine’s Jack Blair, Riverside’s Alexandria Hansen, Launceston duo Cameron Bell and Joshua Molendyk and Prospect Vale’s Lily Caelli, James Fiddian, Ronan Filgate and Ryan Thomas.

The Southern squad who will work with Christian Rainey includes Mathew Aylett, Hallie Maeburn, Daniel North and Mackenzie Thomas of Royal Hobart, Dylan Backhouse of Tea Tree, Gus Burrell of Kingston Beach, Oscar Burrell of North West Bay and Brett Geeves, Zahara Lemon, Tim Smith, Josh Spaulding, Lachlan White and Mackenzie Wilson from Tasmania Golf Club.

Freycinet Golf Club hosts its golf challenge tournament from Friday, September 8 to Sunday, September 10. Entries close on Friday, September 1.

The Holden Scramble is well underway for another season and forthcoming events are at Mowbray on August 27, Port Sorell on September 17, Scamander River October 8, Exeter October 22 and Launceston October 29.

Tasmanian golfers have an opportunity to compete in the Australian Masters Games with golf events being played at Devonport, Ulverstone, Port Sorell, Thirlstane, Wynyard, Penguin and Sheffield from October 22 to 27. Details available at all clubs and the website.