Helen Jones leads Irish Senior Women's Open


NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Irish Senior International Helen Jones (Strabane) leads the field by three strokes at the Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay which began at Laytown and Bettystown Golf Club today.
In gusty winds and sporadic downpours, Jones, fresh from International duty at the Senior Europeans in Germany last week where Ireland finished 4th, birdied her three opening holes and continued steadily to turn two under the card. Turning into the wind, she bogeyed four holes on the inward half but a fine birdie on the fourteenth saw her safely home and sign for a best of the day 74.
Next best was Ballinasloe’s Mary Madden who shared second place with Canada’s Lynda Palahniuk and Wales’ Vicki Thomas. Home favourite Phil O’Gorman was next best on 78 while Ireland’s Pauline Walsh (Headfort), Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock), Violet McBride (Belvoir Park), Pat Doran (Donabate) and Sheena McElroy (Grange) are all within striking distance a couple of shots behind.

Defending Champion Alison Murdoch (Canada) recorded a double and triple bogey on her outward nine but steadied the ship to return an 84 and a strong performance tomorrow could still see her challenge for the title.
The field will play a further 18 holes strokeplay tomorrow with the top 40 qualifying for the final 18 holes on Friday. Following the Championship, the Irish Seniors Team to play at the Seniors Home Internationals in England at the end of the month, will be announced. Positions in the side will be determined by ranking in the Order of Merit and wildcard picks selected by Team Captain Roma English (Larne).
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
74 Helen Jones (Strabane)
77 Mary Madden (Ballinasloe) Lynda Palahniuk (CAN) Vicki Thomas (WAL)
78 Phil O'Gorman (Laytown & Bettystown)
79 Pauline Walsh (Headfort)
80 Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock) Violet McBride (Belvoir Park)
81 Pat Doran (Donabate) Cornelia Fischer (GER) Sheena McElroy (Grange) Jean O'Connor (WAL) Karen Pultz (CAN) Elisabeth Wendels (SWE)
83 Jane Gardner (Malone) Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) Mairead MacNamara (Woodbrook) Denise Parker (ENG) Catherine Reilly (The Heath) Diane Williams (CAN)
84 Olivia Conroy (Co. Longford) Alison Murdoch (CAN)
85 Rhona Brennan (Bandon)
86 Valerie Hassett (Ennis) Anna Moloney (Clonmel) Hilary Smyth (ENG)
87 Patricia McAllister (Laytown & Bettystown) Valerie Shannon (Lahinch)
88 Barbara Biggart (SCO) Catherine Carty (Tullamore) Adrienne Crowley (Woodbrook)
89 Gemma Butler (Birr) Kate Evans (ENG) Mary Geaney (Killarney) Catherine Kavanagh (Mitchelstown)
90 Judy Collins (CAN)
92 Carmel Cahill (Hermitage) Sonja Gottschalch (DEN) Mary Kavanagh (New Ross) Fionnuala McGrady (Dunmurry) Ann Monteith (Slieve Russell) Susan Penman (SCO) Kath Stewart-Moore (Royal Portrush)
93 Trudy Brosnan (Kanturk) Gill Rouiller (Mannan Castle)
94 Alice O'Neill (Laytown & Bettystown)
95 Marianne Copp (ENG) Maj-Britt Laempe (SWE)
96 Maida McGowan (Laytown & Bettystown) Elizabeth Neville (Athenry)
97 Heidi Simpson (USA)
98 Sheila Bodmer (SW I) Roma English (Larne) Linda Ward (CAN)
99 Elaine Elborn (Bangor) Mai McCann (Narin & Portnoo) Dorothy Thomson (SCO)
101 Jenny Cagney (Lahinch) Marita Leech (Laytown & Bettystown)
102 Ann McAuley (Laytown & Bettystown) Helen O'Donoghue (Clonmel)
115 Angela Mullins (Mitchelstown)