MAGUIRES AND MEADOW IN LAST SIXTEEN OF IRISH CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWS RELEASE FROM IRISH
 LADIES GOLF UNION

Leading qualifier Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell), twin sister Leona and tournament favourite Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) are all safely through to the last sixteen at the Irish Women’s Close Amateur Championship, Co. Louth.
As the wind and rain of the qualifying rounds abated, Lisa, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, continued her return to form today, defeating local girl Oonagh Purfield on the home green after the Co. Louth stalwart displayed some fine battling qualities to go the full distrance. 
Sister Leona had a more comfortable journey to round two beating Mary Doyle on fifteen.
Meanwhile Curtis Cup heroine Stephanie was involved in a very competitive duel with Ballyclare youngster Megan Thompson, eventually closing out the tie on the penultimate green.
Other notable victories were notched by 2010 Champion Mary Dowling (New Ross) and current International Paula Grant (Lisburn) while Maria Dunne (Skerries) won the tie of the round after a third extra tie hole win over current International Gillian O’Leary (Cork). 
Local supporters were left licking their wounds after 2004 Champion Deirdre Smith dug deep but eventually succumbed to an impressive Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) on the home green.
The last 16 has thrown up some interesting pairings with Lisa now facing Lucy Simpson (Massereene) and Leona playing young Grant. Dowling has a tough assignment with local Carla Reynolds while Cunningham takes on Enniscrone’s Sarah Helly after her surprising defeat of junior International Jessica Carty (Holywood). 
The Championship continues with two rounds on Monday, with the Champion being crowned after Tuesday’s final at 2pm. 


  FIRST-ROUND RESULTS
UPPER HALF
Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) bt Oonagh Purfield (Co Lough) 1 hole.
Lucy Simpson (Massereene) bt Louise Coffey (Malone) 4 and 3.
Sue Phillips (Woodbrook) bt Amy Farrell (Moate) 4 and 3.
Anna Courtney (St. Anne's) bt Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) 2 and 1.
Sinead Sexton (Lahinch) bt Aoife Lowry (Tipperary) 5 and 3.
Jean O'Driscoll (Muskerry) bt Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) 5 and 4.
Maria Dunne (Skerries) bt Gillian O'Leary (Cork) at 21st
Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) bt Megan Thompson (Ballyclare) 2 and 1.

LOWER HALF
Mary Dowling (New Ross) bt Róisín Brady (Co. Louth) 7 and 5.
Carla Reynolds (Seapoint) bt Suzy Sheehan (The Island) 4 and 3.
Holly Robinson (Co. Sligo) bt Jennifer Gannon (Co. Louth) 1 hole.
Olivia Mehaffey (Royal Co Down Ladies) bt Ariana Coyle Diez (Elm Park) at 19th
Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) bt Mary Doyle (The Heath) 4 and 3
Paula Grant (Lisburn) bt Carol Wickham (Laytown & Bettystown) 1 hole.
Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) bt Jessica Carty (Holywood) 4 and 3.
Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) bt Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth) 1 hole.

MONDAY'S TEE TIMES

08.30 Lisa Maguire v Lucy Simpson.
08.39 Sue Phillips v Anna Courtney.
08.48 Sinead Sexton v Jean O'Driscoll.
08.57 Maria Dunne v Stephanie Meadow.

09.06 Mary Dowling v Carla Reynolds

09.15 Holly Robinson v Olivia Mehaffey
09.24 Leona Maguire v Paula Grant
09.33 Sarah Helly v Sarah Cunningham 
 

ITA WALLACE PLATE
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
Clíodhna McCarthy (Stackstown) walk over
Kelsey Coey (Clandeboye) walk over
Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) bt Hannah Henderson (Ballyclare) 2 holes.
Sarah Murray (Co. Louth) bt Ailish Thompson (Cork) 3 and 2.
Pat Doran (Donabate) walk over
Anne McCormack (Roscommon) bt Laura Grant (Lisburn) 1 hole.
Darcey Carr (Milltown) bt Fiona Farrell (Skerries) 2 and 1.
Laura Doherty (Howth) walk over

QUARTER-FINALS

Kelsey Coey bt Clíodhna McCarthy 5 and 3.
Sarah Murray bt Niamh Giblin 6 and 4.
Anne McCormack bt Pat Doran 5 and 4
Laura Doherty bt Darcey Carr 1 hole.

SEMI-FINAL TEE TIMES
09.42 Kelsey Coey v Sarah Murray
09.51 Anne McCormack v Laura Doherty