KAREN DELANEY LEADING QUALIFIER IN IRISH CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION

Carlow local Karen Delaney, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, the 2007 champion, won the Leitrim Cup as leading qualifier at the end of the 36-hole stroke-play test for the Lancome Irish women's close amateur championship at Carlow Golf Club.

Louise Mernagh from Woodenbridge won the Sybil Meharg Trophy as the leading Under-23 player.
CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW
Matches on Monday morning
08:00 Karen Delaney (Carlow) -v- Rebecca Tully (Holywood)
08:09 Sheena McElroy (Grange) -v- Ariana Coyle Diez (Elm Park)
08:18 Alison Taylor (Malahide) -v- Victoria Craig (Clandeboye)
08:27 Jennifer Russell (Belvoir Park) -v- Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth)
08:36 Charlene Reid (Royal Portrush) -v- Catherine Reilly (The Heath)
08:45 Gertie McMullen (Island) -v- Mary Dowling (New Ross)
08:54 Ciara Butler (Newlands) -v- Patrice Delaney (Birr)
09:03 Anne McCormack (Roscommon) -v- Helen Jones (Strabane)
 09:12 Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) -v- Jill Pierse (Grange)
09:21 Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) -v- Pat Doran (Donabate)
09:30 Danielle McVeigh (RCDL) -v- Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor)
09:39 Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) -v- Louise Coffey (Malone)
09:48 Gillian O'Leary (Cork) -v- Jean O'Driscoll (Muskerry)
09:57 Aedin Murphy (Carlow) -v- Karen O'Neill (Douglas)
10:06 Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) -v- Lucy Simpson (Massereene)
10:15 Sarah Murray (Co. Louth) -v- Sue Phillips (Woodbrook)
 Ita Wallace Draw (Plate)
10:24 Mary Leahy Browne (Kilkenny) V Nicola Coffey (Woodbrook)
10:33 Louise Hanratty (Mannan Castle) V Doireann Carney (Galway)
10:42 Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) V Lily Owens (Malahide)
10:51 Niamh O'Connor (Woodbrook) V Kate Gallagher (Claremorris)
11:00 Eileen O'Brien (Clontarf) V Shannen Brown (The Heath)
11:09 Madeleine Brennan (Carlow) V Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire)
11:18 Emma Murphy (Rosslare) V Niamh Ward (Lurgan)
11:27 Orla Barry (Galway) V Hannah Henderson (Ballyclare)

SCROLL DOWN FOR ALL THE SCORES

ANGUS BOYS AND LADIES SHARE HONOURS AT MONIFIETH

In a new fixture for both teams, Angus boys and Angus ladies earned a 2-2 draw in gale-force winds on the Monifieth Medal course today.
There was outstanding play in the top match from Connar Cook and Calum McKay in winning by 5 and 4 against Jane Grubb and Ashley Smith.
Ann Ramsey and Dawn Dewar, winners by 6 and 4, were too strong for Scott Grant and Sean Grubb. Ross Munro retained the family bragging rights where, in partnership with Ian Douglas, managed a hard fought win by 2 and 1 against his younger sister Heather, partnered by Jackie Brown.
In the final match Andrea Bowie was under par for the holes played with partner Ashley Alston in defeating Ross Dallas and John Miller 5 and 4.
Angus ladies vice captain Jane Grubb and Angus boys junior convenor Alex McKay agreed the day had been a great success and are both keen to have the match as an annual fixture.

RESULTS
Connar Cook (Caird Park) and Calum McKay(Grange) bt Jane Grubb(Montrose) and Ashley Smith (Monifieth) 5 and 4.
Scott Grant (Downfield) and Sean Grubb (Ballumbie) lost to Ann Ramsey(Kirriemuir) and Dawn Dewar (Monifieth) 6 and 4
Ross Munro (Monifieth) and Ian Douglas (Monifieth) bt Jackie Brown (Monifieth) and Heather Munro (Monifieth) 2 and 1.
Ross Dallas(Kirriemuir) and John Miller (Monifieth) lost to Ashley Alston(Montrose) and Andrea Bowie (Monifieth) 5 and 4.

ANGUS TEAM FOR SCOTTISH BOYS' AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP


HAYSTON SUNDAY 5th JUNE 2011

GRANT BOWMAN (MONIFIETH)

CONNAR COOK (CAIRD PARK)

CALUM McKAY (GRANGE)

IAN DOUGLAS (MONIFIETH)

LOUISE KENNEY A CAREER AMATEUR? WELL, MAYBE NOT ...

THE LAST FOUR AT MACHRIHANISH (left to right) Megan Briggs, Louise Kenney, Eilidh Briggs and Jane Turner (Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency).

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
If you thought that new Scottish women's amateur champion Louise Kenney was a career amateur, i.e. would never turn professional, then think again!
In her post-final interview with the golfing Press at Machrihanish, the Dunfermline school teacher and Pitreavie GC's most famous member, said she had not ruled out the possibility two years or so down the line, when she will be 30, that she might be of a mind to have a crack at the professional ranks, more or less out of curiosity as to how she would fare at that level.
The alternative would be to remain an international-class amateur for a few years yet until it would be too late to turn pro - and be left with the unanswered question about whether or not she had what it takes to make a living from golf.

Nothing stronger than. Certainly no commitment to a future course of action. All depends on how successful she is an amateur over the next couple of seasons and what conclusion she comes to when she takes stock of her golf career as she goes into her third decade.
Lynn Kenny, who won the last Scottish women's amateur championship at Machrihanish - beating Heather Stirling in the 2000 final (which was also played in rain but not quite as bad as yesterday), told Kirkwoodgolf readers at the beginning of last week that winning the Scottish title "changed my life."
Will winning the Scottish championship in 2011 be a life-changing event for Louise Kenney? Only time will tell. Louise is pictured above with her proud dad Chic (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency).
Louise, who spent four years at Iowa State University, where some of the school records she set are still standing, has appeared in five Scottish finals in all.
The first two were in the Scottish Under-18 girls’ championships of 2000 (beat Fiona Gilbert in the final) and 2001 (lost to Heather MacRae in the final).
But, on Saturday in the climax to the 97th Scottish women's amateur championship at Machrihanish, Louise, competing in her third final in a row,
She beat 18-year-old Eilidh Briggs (Kilmalcolm) by 4 and 3 with three-over-par figures which underlined just how awful the conditions or wind and rain were. Eilidh, who had been under par in winning impressively her four earlier ties in the tournament, was nine over par for the 14 holes.
“In that terrible weather I got off to a good start to be two up after five holes and I felt relaxed. In the awful conditions I felt I played really well,” said Louise who flew to Turkey a few weeks ago, not for a holiday but to have a swing and technique check-up from her coach Spencer Henderson who last year was appointed national coach by the Turkish Golf Federation.
“A lot of things came together for me to win the title and Spencer’s input was important. So too was Rachael Watton's positive influence as a caddie after I beat her in the quarter-finals,” said Louise.
She is in the field for this coming weekend’s St Rule Trophy at St Andrews, followed by the British women’s open amateur match-play championship at Royal Portrush GC, Northern Ireland from June 7 to 11.
If she really has started to believe in herself on the big occasion, who knows what Kenney can now achieve.
Maybe Megan Briggs and Kelsey MacDonald can count themselves lucky that Louise was a definite non-believer - in her own capabilities on the big occasion - when they played her in the past two finals! 
In July, in the rearranged final of the Fife women’s country title, Kenney will be bidding to win the championship for the third year in a row.
In the midst of the happiest post-tournament interview Louise Kenney has ever given, she found the time to say some words of encouragement for Eilidh Briggs.
“She’s young. Her time will come to be Scottish champion. No doubt about that,” said Louise.
Although probably the last thing she wanted to do was talk about the biggest disappointment of her golfing life so far, Eilidh was mature enough to wipe away the post-final tears and meet the golfing Press
“It was a shame the weather was so bad for the final. Louise was really steady and she got off to a good start. I couldn’t get the holes back in the wind and rain,” said the Bridge of Weir teenager who is bound for Stirling University in the autumn.
“When I look back, I had a great week getting to the final,” said Eilidh who teamed up with older sister Megan to win the Eglinton Trophy for their club, Kilmacolm, in the qualifyinig rounds at the start of the week.
*Everything’s coming up roses for Fife golf this season. Louise Kenney’s victory  followed Fife’s capture of the men’s Scottish area team championship the previous weekend and, before that, Brian Soutar winning the Scottish champion of champions tournament at Leven and Greg Paterson the Craigmillar Park Open

Next year’s Scottish women’s championship will be played at Tain Golf Club, north of Inverness but just south of Royal Dornoch, from May 15 to 19.

conquered the nerves that ruined her title prospects against Megan Briggs in 2009 and Kelsey MacDonald last year.

LANCOME IRISH WOMEN'S CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP SCOREBOARD

QUALIFYING TOTALS
Par 148 (2x74). SSS 76 CSS 77 76.
151 Karen Delaney (Carlow) 78 73
154 Sue Phillips (Woodbrook) 80 74, Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) 74 80
156 Helen Jones (Strabane) 75 81
157 Charlene Reid (Royal Portrush) 79 78, Louise Coffey (Malone) 77 80
159 Gillian O'Leary (Cork) 82 77, Deirdre Smith (Co Louth) 82 77
159 Alison Taylor (Malahide) 80 79
161 Karen O'Neill (Douglas) 82 79, Mary Sheehy (Tralee) 81 80, Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down Ladies) 78 83, Mary Dowling (New Ross), 78 83
162 Ciara Butler (Newlands) 80 82
163 Pat Doran (Donabate) 80 83, Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) 77 86
164 Ariana Coyle Diez (Elm Park) 81 83, Sheena McElroy (Grange) 79 85
165 Lucy Simpson (Massereene) 82 83, Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) 81 84
166 Patrice Delaney (Birr) 86 80, Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) 83 83, Gertie McMullen (Island) 83 83, Aedin Murphy (Carlow) 82 84
168 Jennifer Russell (Belvoir Park) 85 83, Victoria Craig (Clandeboye) 85 83, Jean O'Driscoll (Muskerry) 83 85, Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) 82 86
169 Catherine Reilly (The Heath) 88 81
170 Anne McCormack (Roscommon) 91 79, Jill Pierse (Grange) 89 81,
Sarah Murray (Co. Louth) 83 87
171 Rebecca Tully (Holywood) 87 84, Mary Leahy Browne (Kilkenny) 83 88
172 Maria Dunne (Skerries) 92 80, Hannah Henderson (Ballyclare) 90 82, Eileen O'Brien (Clontarf) 86 86, Kate Gallagher (Claremorris) 85 87,
Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) 85 87
173 Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) 90 83, Emma Murphy (Rosslare) 85 88, Claire Keating (Killarney) 85 88
174 Doireann Carney (Galway) 85 89
175 Louise Hanratty (Mannan Castle) 91 84, Niamh Ward (Lurgan) 87 88
175 Madeleine Brennan (Carlow) 84 91
176 Lily Owens (Malahide) 85 91, Niamh O'Connor (Woodbrook) 85 91
178 Shannen Brown (The Heath) 92 86, Orla Barry (Galway) 88 90
180 Shauna O'Brien (Clonmel) 89 91, Nicola Coffey (Woodbrook) 85 95
181 Mary Doyle (The Heath) 97 84
182 Emer Foley (Castlecomer) 94 88
184 Ann Monteith (Slieve Russell) 93 91
185 Holly Robinson (Co. Sligo) 92 93, Cliodhna McCarthy (Stackstown) 97 88, Patsy McCarthy (Grange) 94 91
185 Ann McAuley (Laytown and Bettystown) 92 93
187 Rebecca O'Regan (Newlands) 97 90
188 Anna Moloney (Clonmel) 91 97
189 Darcey Carr (Milltown) 94 95, Meadhbh Doyle (Portarlington) 93 96, Carmel Roche (Carlow) 90 99
190 Catherine Delaney (Carlow) 92 98
191 Honoria Fogarty (Castlecomer) 96 95, Carmel Cahill (Hermitage) 93 98
193 Bernie Cox (Carlow) 92 101
197 Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) 96 101, Aoife Barry (Muskerry) 94 103
201 Orla Murray (Tramore) 106 95
212 Leigh Bolger (Carlow) 107 105

LUNA ECLIPSES GERMAN OPEN LADIES FIELD WITH SEVEN-SHOT WIN

By BETHAN CUTLER
Ladies European Tour Media Manager

Italy’s Diana Luna shot a superb seven-under-par 65 today to secure her fourth Ladies European Tour title at the UniCredit Ladies German Open presented by Audi.

The 28-year-old, originally from Rome, carded rounds of 67, 67, 65 and 65 for a 72-hole total of 24 under par 264 at Golfpark Gut Häusern in Munich.

Diana is pictured right with the trophy (image by Tristan Jones of the LET).She carded 20 birdies in all and not a single bogey in the entire tournament, earning a seven-shot victory over Finland’s Minea Blomqvist, who finished with a 70.
Luna gave a masterful display of golf on the weather-interrupted final day. Starting out in blazing sunshine, she went to the turn in three under 33 following solid birdies at the third, fourth and seventh holes. The 2009 Solheim Cup player then picked up further birdies at the 11th and 13th before, at 2.38pm, the threat of lightning caused a one-and-a-half hour break.
After relaxing in the clubhouse with a Cornetto ice-cream, Luna stepped back out and birdied the 14th, going six clear of Blomqvist. She then holed a three-footer at the par-four17th, which Blomqvist three-putted for bogey, to cruise eight shots ahead.
Blomqvist responded with a birdie at the par-five 18th, while Luna’s birdie putt fell short, but she sealed the title with a par before local player Martina Eberl and all of Luna’s fellow Italian players stormed onto the green and showered the victor in champagne.
Luna, whose last victory came at the 2009 SAS Masters in Norway before her first child, Elena, was born a year ago, said: “I am so happy, I mean, I have been playing great all week. I’m happy that I won with a good score and I’m very, very confident and feeling great.
“It was special, something that hasn’t happened since 2009. It’s been two years now and it’s so nice to be back there.”
Blomqvist, another young mother with a one-year-old child, shed tears of happiness after finishing in second. It was her first cut made since the 2010 Finnair Masters in August, where she tied for 18th.
The first-round leader Becky Morgan of Wales finished with a 69 to take third place at 16 under, with the recent Turkish Airlines Ladies Open champion Christel Boeljon of the Netherlands (68), Germany’s Caroline Masson (69) and halfway leader Virginie Lagoutte-Clement of France (72) in a share of fourth a shot further back.

Germany’s Sandra Gal, Spain’s Tania Elosegui and Swedes Caroline Westrup and Louise Stahle tied for seventh place at 13 under par.

In addition to the title, Luna walked away with a brand new Audi A5 convertible and €52,500 first prize.

The fourth edition of the tournament attracted a record number of spectators, with 10,400 on the final day and more than 31,450 people attending over the week.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
264 Diana Luna (ITA) 67 67 65 65
271 Minea Blomqvist (FIN) 67 67 67 70
272 Becky Morgan (WAL) 65 69 69 69
273 Christel Boeljon (NL) 69 70 66 68, Caroline Masson (GER) 71 67 66 69, Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (FRA) 66 63 72 72
275 Sandra Gal (GER) 72 70 67 66, Tania Elosegui (ESP) 67 70 70 68, Caroline Westrup (SWE) 70 70 67 68, Louise Stahle (SWE) 73 68 65 69
276 Anja Monke (GER) 74 67 66 69
277 Sophie Giquel-Bettan (FRA) 68 70 68 71
278 Hannah Jun (USA) 71 71 69 67, Linda Wessberg (SWE) 73 71 65 69, Melissa Reid (ENG) 69 70 69 70, Stefania Croce (ITA) 70 69 69 70
279 Malene Jorgensen (DEN) 69 68 73 69, Caroline Hedwall (SWE) 67 71 70 71, Sara Brown (USA) 71 72 65 71, Georgina Simpson (ENG) 69 70 68 72
280 Louise Larsson (SWE) 70 70 71 69, Pernilla Lindberg (SWE) 71 71 69 69
281 Karen Lunn (AUS) 68 76 71 66, Nontaya Srisawang (THA) 70 73 70 68, Veronica Zorzi (ITA) 71 72 69 69, Lynnette Brooky (NZ) 72 68 71 70, Vikki Laing (SCO) 72 68 71 70, Garrett Phillips (USA) 70 70 70 71, Lee-Anne Pace (SA) 68 68 72 73
282 Kaisa Ruuttila (FIN) 73 70 72 67, Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) 70 71 73 68, Frances Bondad (AUS) 69 71 73 69, Sophie Walker (ENG) 71 71 70 70, Mollie Fankhauser (USA) 69 72 70 71
283 Lydia Hall (WAL) 73 70 73 67, Rachel Jennings (ENG) 72 72 70 69, Nikki Garrett (AUS) 69 68 75 71, Elizabeth Bennett (ENG) 69 73 70 71, Marjet van der Graaff (NL) 71 71 70 71, Jade Schaeffer (FRA) 69 71 71 72, Stefanie Michl (AUT) 69 73 68 73, Laura Davies (ENG) 69 67 71 76
284 Caroline Afonso (FRA) 70 73 71 70, Maha Haddioui (MOR) 74 70 69 71, Sophie Sandolo (ITA) 74 70 69 71
285 Lynn Kenny (SCO) 72 71 76 66, Margherita Rigon (ITA) 66 73 75 71, Felicity Johnson (ENG) 69 69 75 72, Carin Koch (SWE) 69 71 73 72, Rebecca Hudson (ENG) 67 73 73 72, Becky Brewerton (WAL) 73 70 70 72, Ursula Wikstrom (FIN) 69 72 71 73, Julie Maisongrosse (FRA) 73 70 68 74
286 Ashleigh Simon (SA) 71 69 74 72
287 Laura Cabanillas (ESP) 74 70 74 69, Holly Aitchison (ENG) 71 73 73 70, Ana Larraneta (ESP) 71 73 70 73, Stacey Keating (AUS) 71 71 71 74
288 Kim Welch (USA) 68 75 76 69, Kiran Matharu (ENG) 71 72 73 72, Federica Piovano (ITA) 72 72 72 72, Line Vedel (DEN) 73 70 71 74
289 Kym Larratt (ENG) 71 70 74 74
290 Danielle Montgomery (ENG) 73 70 74 73, Elisabeth Esterl (GER) 73 71 73 73, Gabriella Wahl (Am) (GER) 71 73 69 77, Morgana Robbertze (SA) 72 69 70 79
291 Nicole Gergely (AUT) 73 70 73 75
297 Lotta Wahlin (SWE) 70 74 70 83

LIGHTNING DANGER HALTS GERMAN LADIES OPEN

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Final round play was suspended at 2.38pm local time in Germany due to the threat of lightning in the area but was scheduled to resume at 4.05pm.
Italian Diana Luna, who led by two overnight, held a five-stroke lead over Frenchwoman Virginie Lagoutte-Clement at 22-under after 13 holes and was well placed to win the Audi A5 convertible and take the €52,500 first prize.
LET Chief Rules Official Mark Vande Broek spotted lightning nearby as the clouds rolled in and winds picked up at Golfpark Gut Häusern after a baking morning in Munich.
Weather forecasters are predicting a second storm to come in and Tournament Director Cyprien Comoy made the decision to protect the seven remaining groups of players and the 10,400 spectators on the golf course.
Germany’s Sandra Gal had just tapped in for a par on the 18th and an unofficial round of 66 to finish at 13 under par when play was halted. “I was very lucky I had a little tap-in and I could just finish it,” she commented.
The 26-year-old from Dusseldorf told the assembled media that she was disappointed with her performance, despite having carded six birdies in the final round.
“It really, really hurts, you know, because I felt I was playing so well. It was one of the best ball-striking weeks of the year, I have to say, but that’s just golf. You can’t force it and if you want it too much, they’re not going to fall,” she said in a television interview.
“It was a first time experience for me. It was a lot of publicity from your home country, so it feels different from over in America. I think I was physically tired: a lot of running around for three days but I loved it. It was a good experience for me and I think I learned from it.
“I think the UniCredit Ladies German Open was a fantastic event and the LET can really be proud of it. I hope it’s going to continue to grow and more people will continue to watch over the next few years.”
The fourth edition of the tournament attracted a record number of spectators, with more than 31,450 over the five days including the Pro Am.

STEPHANIE MEADOW NAMED IN ALL-AMERICAN COLLEGE TEAM

BRYAN, Texas – UCLA won its third NCAA Division I Women’s Golf National Championship on Saturday evening, defeating second-place and defending national champion Purdue by four shots as darkness fell at Traditions Club.
Louisiana State University freshman Austin Ernst, pictured right, won the individual title, finishing at 7-under-par 281 for the championship after posting a second 66 on Saturday that included a hole-in-one - her first-ever ace - on the par-3 second hole (165yd).
Ernst, from Seneca, South Carolina where her father is a club pro, is the first freshman to win the Division I individual title since USC’s Jennifer Rosales did it in 1998.
For all of the contending teams, Saturday was a very long day. UCLA, Purdue and LSU each had to finish their third-round play early Saturday morning after Friday’s play was suspended due to darkness. Then all had to return for fourth-round play late Saturday afternoon.
UCLA began the final round with a seven-shot advantage on Purdue. Slowly, the Boilermakers chipped away at the lead, taking the top spot by a stroke as the final group played the 13th hole. In the end, however, it was the Bruins who pulled away in the closing moments, getting nothing worse than a par from any of its players over the closing four holes.
Stephanie Kono and senior Glory Yang – who said earlier this week that Saturday’s final round may be her last (as an amateur) – each birdied the 18th hole.
By day’s end, a teary UCLA head coach Carrie Forsyth was drained.

“It was pretty intense out there,” she said. “We were not playing very well for a while, then it got a little too close for comfort for a little while, but we came back and made some birdies.

“It was awesome, but I’ve got more gray hairs than I did when we started this day, that’s for sure. At the end of the year, this is the one that everybody wants to win.

The final margin may well have been closer, but Purdue senior Thea Hoffmeister was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard. The total score on her card (75) was correct, but she had signed for a score higher than she had on the par-4 12th, but also signed for a five on the par-5 18th hole when she had actually scored a six.

According to head NCAA rules official Heidi Olson, signing for a higher score than what you shoot carries no penalty, but signing for a score lower is an automatic disqualification, even when the total score is correct.

“The player is responsible for the hole-by-hole score, not just the total,” Olson said.

As a result of the disqualification, Purdue was forced to take a 77 from Maude-Aimee LeBlanc instead of the 75 that Hoffmeister shot.

Teams start five players and keep the top four scores.

Purdue head coach Devon Brouse was bothered by the error.

“You shouldn’t have to teach that lesson too many times because if you do that in the last round of the NCAA tournament, obviously there are going to be some consequences.”

Still , Brouse said he did soften the message to Hoffmeister.

“I just gave her a hug and said, ‘You know what? It’s a mistake. We all make mistakes. Nobody’s perfect.’

“It’s a little surprising because she’s a very bright girl, but you get excited, you get nervous, things happen.”

Tiffany Lua led the Bruins, finishing at 1-under for the tournament, good enough to tie for fourth in the individual race.

“For me, the whole back nine was a bit of a blur,” Lua said. “We definitely just fought for every single shot out there. “

Lua said winning a national championship caused her to get a bit reflective.

“At the beginning of the year, we set our goals and everybody wants to win the national championship and you think about all the extra workouts and all the extra practices that you dreaded to go through but you did it as a team.

“You look back now and you think to yourself that it’s all worth it.”

For much of Saturday, there was doubt as to whether or not the final round would be completed before dark on Saturday. Tournament officials were even planning to put utility vehicles with lights on the area surrounding the 18th hole to light the green if need be. In the end, the tournament ended was mere minutes of daylight to spare, a fact Forsyth was glad for.

“We definitely didn’t want to come back and play tomorrow,” she said.

In individual contest, Austin Ernst's 281 total gave her a three-shot win from Kelli Shean (Arkansas) with former British girls champion Laura Gonzalez (Escallon) third on 286.
Joint fourth on 287 were Tiffany Lua (UCLA) and Georgia's Marta Silva who will be in the field for the British women's open amateur championship at Royal Portrush GC, Northern Ireland next month.
So too will Stephanie Meadow (Alabama) and Sally Watson (Stanford). Stephanie, who is a member at Royal Portrush, did not have the scores that reflected the outstanding freshman season she has had at Alabama.
She scored 75, 74, 77 and 72 to shared 32nd place on 298 - one head of Spanish ace Carlota Ciganda who has played her last round as an amateur. The past British women's open amateur champion  will officially turn pro next week.
Sally Watson from Edinburgh finished joint 45th,  in a field of 126 players, on 301 with disappointing scores of 73, 78, 71 and 79.
LATER NEWS:
Stephanie Meadpw was named in the Division 1 First Team all-American at the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) banquet last night following the NCAA Championship.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS



Par 288 (4x72)
281 Austin Ernst (Louisiana State) 72 66 77 66.
284 Kelli Shean (Arkansas) 75 70 71 68.
286 Laura Gonzalez (Purdue) 74 71 70 72.
287 Tiffany Lua (UCLA) 71 71 70 75, Marta Silva (Georgia) 71 71 72 73.

SELECTED SCORES
297 Jacqueline Hedwall (Louisiana State) 72 76 73 76 T26).
298 Stephanie Meadow (Alabama) 75 74 77 72 (T32).
299 Carlota Ciganda (Arizona State) 72 73 78 76 (T30).
300 Megan McChrystal (Louisiana State) 72 77 76 75 (T43).
301 Sally Watson (Stanford) 73 78 71 79.
Field of 126 players.
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
1173 UCLA.
1177 Purdue.
1181 Louisiana State.
1186 Virginia.
1190 Southern California, Arkansas.
Selected totals:
1193 Alabama (8th).
1125 Stanford (23rd).

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LUNA IS OVER THE MOON AS SHE LEADS GERMAN OPEN BY TWO

By BETHAN CUTLER
Ladies European Tour Media ManagerItaly’s Diana Luna fired a third round 65 to go two clear at the UniCredit Ladies German Open presented by Audi on Saturday.

The 28-year-old from Rome posted seven birdies on another scorching day at Golfpark Gut Häusern in Munich to tie her career-low score.

The three-time Ladies European Tour winner – who last won at the 2009 SAS Masters in Norway - has not carded a bogey in 54-holes.

She finished the day on a 17 under par total ahead of Finland’s Minea Blomqvist, who shot a third straight round of 67 and Frenchwoman Virginie Lagoutte-Clement, the halfway leader who led by five at the start of the day.

Lagoutte-Clement shot a disappointing level par 72 containing two birdies and two bogeys but remains in the picture for her fourth LET title.

First round leader Becky Morgan of Wales shot 69 and is in the hunt for her maiden win at 13 under par, with Germany’s Caroline Masson a shot further behind after a 66.

Christel Boeljon from the Netherlands, who won the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open a fortnight ago, carded six birdies on her way to a 66 and sits at 11 under, with Sweden’s Louise Stahle (65) and France’s Sophie Giquel-Bettan (68) both seven shots off the pace. England’s Laura Davies, the 2010 champion, had a 71 and is one of five players who are eight strokes from the leader.

Luna opened with a run of five birdies going to the turn and picked up two more strokes at the par-five 11th and 18th holes to add a 65 to consecutive opening rounds of 67.

“I think I played more or less the same but holed more putts. I played well all week,” she said.

“I still think you gave to play great tomorrow to get a win because this is a course where everybody is playing very well so I think I need a good score.”

She holed a three-foot birdie putt on 18 in front of a packed gallery, with 8700 spectators adding to the Major-like atmosphere on the third day.

Luna acknowledged the cheers and said: “It’s just unbelievable. I love to play when the crowd is there and it’s so nice that finally we have a good tournament, a good crowd. I’m really glad we have this fantastic organisation.”

Luna’s first daughter, Elena, was born just a year ago and it will be a battle of the young mothers on Sunday, as Blomqvist has a one-year-old son called Elmeri and Lagoutte-Clement has a three-year-old girl, Victoria.

Blomqvist is targeting her third LET victory and her first since the 2008 Finnair Masters. She said: “I’m very, very happy. I played with Diana Luna today and she played seven under and she started very well. I felt like I had to keep on going with her otherwise I’m staying behind so she gave me very good energy from early in the round.”
THIRD-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 216 (3x72)199 Diana Luna (ITA) 67 67 65
201 Minea Blomqvist (FIN) 67 67 67, Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (FRA) 66 63 72
203 Becky Morgan (WAL) 65 69 69
204 Caroline Masson (GER) 71 67 66

205 Christel Boeljon (NL) 69 70 66

206 Louise Stahle (SWE) 73 68 65, Sophie Giquel-Bettan (FRA) 68 70 68

207 Anja Monke (GER) 74 67 66, Caroline Westrup (SWE) 70 70 67, Georgina Simpson (ENG) 69 70 68, Tania Elosegui (ESP) 67 70 70, Laura Davies (ENG) 69 67 71

208 Sara Brown (USA) 71 72 65, Stefania Croce (ITA) 70 69 69, Melissa Reid (ENG) 69 70 69, Caroline Hedwall (SWE) 67 71 70, Lee-Anne Pace (SA) 68 68 72
209 Linda Wessberg (SWE) 73 71 65, Sandra Gal (GER) 72 70 67
210 Stefanie Michl (AUT) 69 73 68, Garrett Phillips (USA) 70 70 70, Malene Jorgensen (DEN) 69 68 73
211 Julie Maisongrosse (FRA) 73 70 68, Pernilla Lindberg (SWE) 71 71 69, Hannah Jun (USA) 71 71 69, Mollie Fankhauser (USA) 69 72 70, Morgana Robbertze (SA) 72 69 70, Jade Schaeffer (FRA) 69 71 71, Louise Larsson (SWE) 70 70 71, Vikki Laing (SCO) 72 68 71, Lynnette Brooky (NZ) 72 68 71
212 Veronica Zorzi (ITA) 71 72 69, Marjet van der Graaff (NL) 71 71 70, Elizabeth Bennett (ENG) 69 73 70, Sophie Walker (ENG) 71 71 70, Ursula Wikstrom (FIN) 69 72 71, Nikki Garrett (AUS) 69 68 75
213 Sophie Sandolo (ITA) 74 70 69, Maha Haddioui (MOR) 74 70 69, Gabriella Wahl (Am) (GER) 71 73 69, Becky Brewerton (WAL) 73 70 70, Nontaya Srisawang (THA) 70 73 70, Stacey Keating (AUS) 71 71 71, Rebecca Hudson (ENG) 67 73 73, Frances Bondad (AUS) 69 71 73, Carin Koch (SWE) 69 71 73, Felicity Johnson (ENG) 69 69 75
214 Lotta Wahlin (SWE) 70 74 70, Ana Larraneta (ESP) 71 73 70, Rachel Jennings (ENG) 72 72 70, Caroline Afonso (FRA) 70 73 71, Line Vedel (DEN) 73 70 71, Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) 70 71 73, Ashleigh Simon (SA) 71 69 74, Margherita Rigon (ITA) 66 73 75
215 Karen Lunn (AUS) 68 76 71, Kaisa Ruuttila (FIN) 73 70 72, Kym Larratt (ENG) 71 70 74
216 Federica Piovano (ITA) 72 72 72, Nicole Gergely (AUT) 73 70 73, Lydia Hall (WAL) 73 70 73, Kiran Matharu (ENG) 71 72 73
217 Holly Aitchison (ENG) 71 73 73, Elisabeth Esterl (GER) 73 71 73, Danielle Montgomery (ENG) 73 70 74
218 Laura Cabanillas (ESP) 74 70 74
219 Kim Welch (USA) 68 75 76, Lynn Kenny (SCO) 72 71 76

LANCOME IRISH WOMEN'S CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP at CARLOW GC

TOURNAMENT LEADER Louise Mernagh in action (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency).


NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
On a cold, wet and windy May day, Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) returned the best score with a level par round of 74 on the 6,136 yard Carlow course . Louise had a great birdie-birdie start, despite nursing a throbbing toothache and had two further birdies on the back none on the par 4 holes – the 12th(339 yards) and the 15th (350 yards).
With weather conditions deteriorating as the day progressed, Helen Jones (Strabane), current Irish Senior Open Stroke Play Champion, returned an impressive, one-over 75 which included birdies at the first, fifth and 14th holes. Helen clearly enjoyed the course. Her last outing at Carlow was when the Interprovincial matches were staged here in 1997.
Past three times champion (1990-92-95) Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) has certainly not lost any of her golfing finesse. She carded a 77 to lie joint third with Louise Coffey (Malone).

Reigning champion Mary Dowling (New Ross) returned a very respectable 78 and is tied fourth with another past champion and local favourite Karen Delaney (Carlow), as well as Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co. Down Ladies) who is looking to add this title to her impressive CV.

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD

Par 74, SSS 76, CSS 77

74 Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge)

75 Helen Jones (Strabane)

77 Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny), Louise Coffey (Malone)

78 Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down Ladies), Karen Delaney (Carlow), Mary Dowling (New Ross)
79 Sheena McElroy (Grange), Charlene Reid (Royal Portrush)
80 Ciara Butler (Newlands), Pat Doran (Donabate), Sue Phillips (Woodbrook) Alison Taylor (Malahide)
81 Ariana Coyle Diez (Elm Park), Chloe Ryan (Castletroy), Mary Sheehy (Tralee)
82 Aedin Murphy (Carlow), Gillian O'Leary (Cork), Sarah Helly (Enniscrone), Karen O'Neill (Douglas), Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth)
82 Lucy Simpson (Massereene)
83 Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor), Gertie McMullen (Island), Jean O'Driscoll (Muskerry), Sarah Murray (Co. Louth), Mary Leahy Browne (Kilkenny)
84 Madeleine Brennan (Carlow)
85 Doireann Carney (Galway), Kate Gallagher (Claremorris), Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint), Emma Murphy (Rosslare), Victoria Craig (Clandeboye). Nicola Coffey (Woodbrook), Claire Keating (Killarney), Jennifer Russell (Belvoir Park),
Lily Owens (Malahide), Niamh O'Connor (Woodbrook)
86 Patrice Delaney (Birr), Eileen O'Brien (Clontarf)
87 Niamh Ward (Lurgan), Rebecca Tully (Holywood)
88 Catherine Reilly (The Heath), Orla Barry (Galway)
89 Shauna O'Brien (Clonmel), Jill Pierse (Grange)
90 Hannah Henderson (Ballyclare) Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) Carmel Roche (Carlow)
91 Anne McCormack (Roscommon), Anna Moloney (Clonmel), Louise Hanratty (Mannan Castle)
92 Bernie Cox (Carlow), Maria Dunne (Skerries), Shannen Brown (The Heath) Ann McAuley (Laytown and Bettystown), Holly Robinson (Co. Sligo),Catherine Delaney (Carlow)
93 Carmel Cahill (Hermitage), Meadhbh Doyle (Portarlington), Ann Monteith (Slieve Russell)
94 Aoife Barry (Muskerry), Patsy McCarthy (Grange), Emer Foley (Castlecomer), Darcey Carr (Milltown)
96 Honoria Fogarty (Castlecomer), Ruth Maguire (Corrstown)
97 Rebecca O'Regan (Newlands), Mary Doyle (The Heath) Cliodhna McCarthy (Stackstown)
106 Orla Murray (Tramore)
107 Leigh Bolger (Carlow)