Michael Sinclair didn't need to be asked twice if he fancied a trip to Venezuela.

When Irish close champion Ciaran McMonagle was forced to withdraw from the two-man team for the prestigious Bolivar International Trophy next week because of commitments in the United States, Sinclair - runner-up in the national championship and second to the Donegal player in the GUI Order of Merit for the season - got the call-up.

"It's a nice reward after a tough season," admitted Sinclair, the 28-year-old from Knock who has enjoyed a superb, if somewhat agonising, season. Apart from losing out to McMonagle in the Irish Close final, Sinclair was also on the Irish team which heartbreakingly fell to England in the Home Internationals at Royal County Down.

Sinclair and Portmarnock's Adrian Morrow form the Irish team for the biennial event in South America. "From what I have heard, it is a great tournament," said Sinclair. "Certainly, it will be a nice change from the weather we have encountered here for the past few weeks."

The Irish duo fly out to Madrid later this week where they will meet up with the teams from England, Wales and Scotland before continuing the trip to Venezuela for the event which features international teams from all the major golfing nations.

"My target for the season really was to make the Irish team for the Home Internationals," said Sinclair. "I performed a lot better this season than previous years and had a good run in the East of Ireland and also the Irish Close, and had a decent Interprovincial series too. So, I did most of what I set out to achieve at the start of the year."

Indeed, his previous international experience had been confined to an appearance in the annual Governer Carey Cup match against the Metropolitan Golf Association (of New York) last year when that encounter took place at Portmarnock Links. However, Sinclair's improved form was rewarded by selection on the full Irish team for the recent Home Internationals and, now, on the two-man team for Venezuela. Ironically, that call-up comes at the expense of a return meeting with the New Yorkers which takes place in Long Island next week.

"I learned a good deal from the Home Internationals. Against players of that calibre, you just can't afford to make too many mistakes - and I believe that international golf makes you tougher mentally," he said. "The standard is definitely greater."

Sinclair took a small break after the exertions of the Home Internationals - "We were unlucky not to win," he remarked. "The final match against England could have swung either way but, having to play eight or nine rounds of golf in five days, you are certainly tired afterwards." - but, since getting the call-up for Venezuela, the Ulster interprovincial player has been back on the course every day in an attempt to fine-tune his game.

"I believe they are just out of the rain season over there, so conditions should be very good," remarked Sinclair, winner of the North of Ireland championship in 1997 and a former Irish boys' international. The format for the four days of competition in Venezuela is strokeplay which Sinclair reckons should be to his liking.

Two years ago, Ken Kearney, then Irish close champion, and Walker Cup player Jody Fanagan finished fourth in the tournament. Now, Sinclair and fellow-international Morrow are seeking to go one, two, or even three, better.