CITY OF DERRY AND SKERRIES BEATEN IN SEMI-FINALS

 

Cahir Park and Tuam through to Miele All Ireland Final at Naas

 

NEWS RELEASE FROM IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION

Following a stormy night, Naas Golf Club proved to be a magnificent venue for the Miele All-Ireland Four-ball semi-finals today when Cahir Park and Tuam reached tomorrow's final.

 

CITY OF DERRY 1½, CAHIR PARK 2½

Naoimh Quigg (3) and Brenda Chauchan (17) bt Bernie Carroll (15) and Yvonne Morrisson (19) 2 and 1.
Vivienne Houston (5) and Gerda Laird (16) lost to Caitlin Fitzgerald (14) and Michelle Keating (23) 4 and 2.
Catherine McCanny (9) and Ciara Quigg (15) halved with Susan Carey (18) and Johanne Quaid (20).
Geraldine Crossan (14) and Maire McReynolds (15) lost to Marie Keating (22) and Emma Keating (24) 5 and 4

TUAM 3½, SKERRIES ½

Lorna Mullally (13) and Martina Casserly (15) bt Fiona Farrell (5) and Ciara Boylan (15) 2 and 1.

Anneta O Neill (12) and Mary Bollard (20) bt Barbara Ryan (10) and Mary Kenny (12) 3 and 1.

Jacqui Mc Grath (17) and Siobhan Joyce (20) bt Joyce Gillespie (8) and Joan Lewis (15) 4 and 3.

Jackie Cullen (16) and Ann Higgins (23) halved with Grainne O Connor (10) and Sylvia Alcock (16)

Sunday Final

10:00 - 10:30 Cahir Park v Tuam

LACOSTE LADIES OPEN DE FRANCE

HERNANDEZ RIGHT AWAY - FOUR 

CLEAR AFTER THIRD-ROUND 66

NEWS RELEASE FROM L E T
By BETHAN CUTLER, Media Manager

Maria Hernández shot a four-under-par 66 today and extended her lead to four strokes after the third round of the Lacoste Ladies Open de France.

At 12-under-par, the 28-year-old from Pamplona will go head to head against two other Spanish players in the last group on Sunday.

Defending champion Azahara Munoz, who had a three-under-par 67, lies in second place, with former Ladies European Tour No.1 Carlota Ciganda also part of the all-Spanish three-ball set to head out at 12:14 local time.

At seven-under-par, Ciganda sits alongside England’s Florentyna Parker and Swiss amateur Albane Valenzuela. 

All three players carded level par rounds of 70 on a warm but overcast day at Golf de Chantaco in St Jean de Luz, Aquitaine.

Rookies Amy Boulden from Wales and Isabelle Boineau from France are one stroke back at six-under-par.

Hernández lost her overnight lead after stumbling to bogeys on her first and second holes, but bounced back with birdies on four, six and seven.

Three straight birdies from the 13^th pushed Hernández five strokes clear of the field, before Munoz closed the gap with a birdie on 17.

The World No. 415 ranked player tapped in for birdie on 13 and 14 before hitting the green in two shots and making two putts to pick up another shot on the par-5 15^th.

“It was great. I hit them really close,” said Hernández, who won her sole Ladies European Tour title at the 2010 Slovak Open. 

“The start was a little bit rough and I don’t really know what happened. I hit one bad shot really on number two and number one. 

" From there, I was playing well. I tried to go back to my game and be patient. I knew birdies were going to come because on this golf course normally you can make a ton of birdies. So I knew they were coming and just needed to be patient and play my own game.”

Munoz came from a stroke behind to win by one last year and the World No. 15 from Malaga feels that she can overcome a four stroke deficit. 

“Four shots is nothing over 18 holes and so many things can happen on this golf course. You can go really low or you can get yourself in a lot of trouble. Tomorrow I’m just going to try to go for it and hopefully it happens,” she said.

Although Ciganda is five strokes back, she has a huge gallery of supporting friends and family from just over the Spanish border whose cheers could inspire some heroics on Sunday. 

The World No. 62 from Pamplona is looking for her first Ladies European Tour title since last year’s Ladies German Open play-off victory and said of her 70:

 “I don’t think it’s a bad score because I didn’t start very well. I bogeyed the first two holes. Then I made an eagle on seven and made a few pars and two birdies on the back nine.

"It was a shame on the last hole that I didn’t make a birdie but it’s just golf and one more day tomorrow.”

Parker, who will play one group ahead of the all-Spanish three-ball, took the outright lead after a birdie on the third hole and she held a lead at the turn before making a bogey on 10 followed by a double on the par-3 12^th, where she found the short right greenside bunker just over a ravine.

“I played very well on the front nine very well, very solid and a silly mistake on the 12^th hole that set me back a bit,” said Parker, the 2014 Ladies Italian Open champion. 

“I’m enjoying it and having a good time.”

Boulden will be bidding to overtake Sally Watson in the 2014 rookie of the year race this week, as the currently lies €9,454 behind the Scot

If Watson finishes as the last professional in the field, Boulden needs to finish fifth or better to go into first place, but the Welshwoman needs to be fourth if Watson places any higher in the field.  

THIRD-ROUND SCOREBOARD

Par 210 (3x70)

198 Maria Hernandez (ESP)  65 67 66

202 Azahara Munoz (ESP)  67 68 67

203 Carlota Ciganda (ESP)  66 67 70, Albane Valenzuela (SWI)  69 64 70, Florentyna Parker (ENG)  66 67 70

204 Amy Boulden (WAL)  69 69 66, Isabelle Boineau (FRA)  67 68 69

205 Malene Jorgensen (DEN)  70 67 68

206 Charley Hull (ENG)  68 67 71

207 Minea Blomqvist (FIN)  69 69 69, Christine Wolf (AUT)  69 69 69, Noora Tamminen (FIN)  68 72 67

208 Hannah Burke (ENG)  68 70 70, Beth Allen (USA)  73 69 66, Sophie Gustafson (SWE)  73 66 69

209 Felicity Johnson (ENG)  68 68 73, Ariane Provot (FRA)  71 67 71, Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA)  73 70 66, Gwladys Nocera (FRA)  70 71 68, Klara Spilkova (CZE)  68 68 73

210 Sahra Hassan (WAL)  71 70 69

211 Bree Arthur (AUS)  69 69 73, Maha Haddioui (MAR)  66 73 72, Alexandra Vilatte (FRA)  70 68 73, Jade Schaeffer (FRA)  70 70 71, Lydia Hall (WAL)  73 69 69, Liz Young (ENG)  69 70 72

212 Caroline Afonso (FRA)  72 67 73, Georgina Simpson (ENG)  70 68 74, Titiya Plucksataporn (THA)  74 68 70, Sophie Sandolo (ITA)  67 71 74, Elina Nummenpaa (FIN)  76 69 67

213 Chloe Leurquin (BEL)  70 72 71, Nikki Campbell (AUS)  67 70 76, Cassandra Kirkland (FRA)  70 75 68, Rebecca Hudson (ENG)  73 69 71, Caroline Martens (NOR)  73 71 69, Ann-Kathrin Lindner (GER)  73 69 71

214 Margherita Rigon (ITA)  73 71 70, Nikki Garrett (AUS)  72 71 71, Louise Larsson (SWE)  70 72 72, Tania Elosegui (ESP)  73 70 71, Diana Luna (ITA)  71 68 75, Eleanor Givens (ENG)  70 73 71

215 Sophie Walker (ENG)  73 72 70, Nicole Broch Larsen (DEN)  74 71 70, Maria Salinas (PER)  72 73 70, Lucie Andre (FRA)  70 75 70

216 Cathryn Bristow (NZ)  69 75 72, Isabell Gabsa (GER)  71 69 76, Marion Veysseyre (FRA)  70 73 73, Marta Silva Zamora (ESP)  68 74 74, Lucy Williams (ENG)  72 71 73, Krista Bakker (FIN)  69 74 73, Astrid Vayson De Pradenne (FRA)  76 68 72

217 Anais Maggetti (SUI)  67 72 78

218 Sally Watson (SCO)  74 70 74

222 Karolin Lampert (GER)  71 74 77

 

JANE TURNER ALSO MAKES THE CUT IN LETAS EVENT

MURRAY MOVES UP TO TIED SIXTH
 

IN AZORES LADIES OPEN

Alford's Laura Murray moved up into a share of sixth place with a round to go in the Azoes Ladies Open, thanks to a second-round par 72 for three-over 147 at Golf de Batalha, Sao Miguel Island.

Murray, pictured right, playing out of the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, birdied the short fifth, the ninth, the short 11th, and two par-5s holes, the 13th and 18th but cancelled out these gains with bogeys at the third, fourth, sixth, 15th and 17th in halves of 37 and 35.

Winner of the Paul Lawrie Ladies Tartan Tour Order of Merit, which gives her free flights and hotel accommodation at the Ladies European Tour Q School in Morocco, Murray is six shots behind the leader, Norway;s Tonje Daffinrud (71-68 for five-under 139).

Craigielaw's Jane Turner did not fare well. She slipped back to a share of 21st place on 154 after a second-round 79 which included an inward half of 41, lowlight of which was a double bogey 5 at the short 17th.
But Turner did manage to beat the cut by one shot.
Former Scottish amateur champion Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), still an amateur, made the long trip to the Azores but fell ill after only two holes in the first round and had to retire.


LEADING SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
139 T Daffinrud (Nor) 71 68
140 D Prorokova (Cze) 70 70
141 C Rominger (Swi) 70 71
145 R Raastad (Now) 71 74,L Henriksson (Fin) 76 69.
147 L Murray (Sco) 75 72, A Rossi (Ita) 75 72 (T6).
OTHER  SCORES
151 K Matharu (Eng) 72 79

154 J Turner (Sco) 75 79 (T21)

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LPGA TOUR REPORT AND LINK TO SCORES

STACY LEWIS AND CAROLINE 

HEDWALL  SHARE LEAD IN CHINA


FROM THE LPGA TOUR WEBSITE
The third round of the Reignwood LPGA Classic at Pine valley Golf Club, Nanklou, Beijing in China, ended the way it started, with Stacy Lewis (-13) sitting atop the leaderboard, this time in a tie with Caroline Hedwall.
 It seems the 56min rain delay must have motivated both players, allowing them a chance to eat and refocus because both finished strong.
Lewis and Hedwall are on 13-under-par 206 on the par-73 course. They are two shots clear of South Korea Mirim Lee and American Brittany Lang.
The day begun in an un-Lewis-like fashion with the World No. 1 player struggling through the first 11 holes, before raising her game with birdies on four of the last six holes. She pinpointed her swing on 13 as the turning point in the round.
“Probably the swing I made on 13, on the par 3, I don’t know what it was, but things just kind of seemed to click after that.” Lewis said. “You know, just kind of found some confidence in my golf swing from there, and then making the putts, too, which was nice.”
Caroline Hedwall (-13) was 5-under for the day thanks to five birdies after making the turn. After playing with Lewis on Friday, Hedwall knows she needs to bring her “A-game” in order to best the No. 1 player in the world.
“She is really solid.” Hedwall said of Lewis. “I’m going to have to shoot a low one tomorrow if I want to win this tournament. I put myself in a great position, and I’m looking forward to it. Should be fun.”
Already leading most of the award categories, a win tomorrow will increase Lewis's already strong position.
“A win this week would help that a lot.” Lewis said. “I don’t think I’m comfortable until the last tournament and nobody else can beat me. It’s one of those things I don’t think you get too comfortable with. 
"The players behind me are great players and can win two tournaments in a row pretty easily. I won’t be comfortable until the season is over. “
Hedwall is looking for her first career LPGA win and Lewis will be looking for her fourth win this year.
World No. 2 Inbee Park, about to be married next week, has quietly found herself in the thick of things once again. Park began the day tied for 12th and approached moving day relaxed and ready to make a move up to joint fifth position.
“Yeah, I had really nothing to lose really today.” Park said. “I was in the middle about 12th or 15th place. I had to make some kind of move today to have a chance tomorrow.”
Park has spent plenty of time in the winner’s circle and it’s that experience she can rely on to keep her in contention week in and week out.
“I think the more and more you play in the contention and more you get in the contention you want to be in the contention more. You know how it feels to be leading and be in the contention, and obviously it’s a lot more exciting.  
"You really work harder to put yourself there obviously. I think yesterday was probably the day I feel a little bit disappointed.  But the first day and the third day were good.”

 LEADING THIRD ROUND TOTALS
   Par 219 (3x73)
206 C Hedwall (Sweden) 67 71 68, S Lewis (USA) 66 68 72
208 M Lee (S Korea) 70 68 70, B Lang (USA) 70 66 72
209 I Park (S Korea) 69 72 68, C Masson (Germany) 70 68 71

SELECTED SCORES
210 S Pettersen (Norway) 74 66 70 (T7)
216 C Matthew (Scotland) 72 72 72 (T32)
226 L Davies (England) 75 79 71 (T67)


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STEPHANIE AND VIKKI QUALIFY FOR STAGE 3 BUT KYLIE MISSES OUT

Ginger Howard Medals for a Second Time at LPGA Qualifying Tournament Stage II

LPGA Qualifying Tournament Stage II
Plantation Golf and Country Club – Panther and Bobcat Courses
Venice, Florida
Final Round 

+Stephanie Meadow (N Ireland) qualified T16 on 287; Vikki Laing (Scotland) qualified T41 on 290 but Kylie Walker (Scotland) missed the qualifying mark (295) by four shots, finishing T118 on 299



VENICE, Florida  – Ginger Howard (Bradenton, Florida) shot a 1-under 71 on Friday to earn medalist honours (leading qualifier) at the LPGA Qualifying Tournament Stage II at Plantation Golf and Country Club.  Howard finished with a four-day total of 9-under 289, one stroke clear of Alison Lee (Valencia, California).
The cut was made at 7-over 295 and 85 will advance to Final Stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament. 
Howard won medalist honours in 2011 at LPGA Qualifying Tournament Stage II and will be heading to her fourth final stage. She is the first player to be the leading qualifier twice. 
“It is really neat to medal again,” said the 20-year-old Howard. “It is a different feeling this time around. The first time I felt like I was going to get something and that it was over and that I accomplished something, but now I realize that I have not really accomplished anything yet and I am just going to stay humble this time around.”
“Last time, I was like ‘let’s go celebrate’ but this time I am going to stay poised.”
Howard opened the day with a bogey, but responded quickly with a birdie on the second.  She went bogey-birdie on the final two holes of the front nine to make the turn at even for the day. Howard made seven straight pars before a birdie on the par-4 17^th to win medalist honours.
“Honestly, it was not a very good ball striking day today, but some putts were rolling in for me and the short game stayed solid so that was nice. I felt like I could really rely on my short game. I’m happy I was able to grind it out today.”
Howard now has her sights set on the top 20 at Final Stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament.
“If I could get in the top 20 it would mean that I worked hard to get where I want to be, but I would still have things I want to do. It would not stop the journey and I think no matter what happens I am going to stay positive. It would definitely mean a lot to me to play on the LPGA.”
Howard had a tough year on the Symetra Tour. She finished 78^th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list and did not have a top 10 finish.  
The Howard sisters may be the youngest player-caddie duo to ever win a Qualifying Tournament.  Ginger’s sister, Robbi, is 19-years-old and has been a big asset for her.
“It was surreal having my best friend and my sister on the bag this week. I could not have asked for anyone else, she really keeps me in the moment.”
Final Stage of LPGA Qualifying Tournament will be held from December 3 through December 7 at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida.  The top 20 at final stage will earn category 12 status on the LPGA Tour priority list, while 21-45 will earn category 17 status on the priority list. 
Players that finished 72 holes at Stage II, but did not advance to Stage III will have category “I” status on the Symetra Tour priority list.   
Players that complete a minimum of 72 holes at Stage III and do not receive 2015 LPGA membership in category 12 will receive category “D” status on the Symetra Tour priority list.  
ANNIE PARK OF USC FINISHES THIRD: Annie Park (Levittown, New York), a junior at USC, finished in a tie for third by carding a final round 2-under 70 to close at 6-under 282. Park was the only player in Stage II to finish under-par in all four rounds. 
“Overall, it was a pretty good day,” said Park. “It was a consistent week for me, I feel like it could have been worse.”


AUGUSTA JAMES COULD HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE: Augusta James (Kingston, Ontario) may have a decision to make after Stage III of Qualifying Tournament.  She is currently a senior at N.C. State and has advanced through Stage II of Qualifying Tournament as an amateur.
“Stage III is coming up and I plan to play in that,” said James. “I am going to go ask Erin some questions about amateur status so I can keep that, but I am just going to keep an open line of communication with my coach at N.C. State so that she knows what is going on.”
James fired a 3-under 69 on the final day to finish at 3-under 285. She finished in a tie for tenth. 
“This is super exciting. I’ve had a lot of fun at the first two stages and I am sure third stage is going to be the exact same thing.  I just want to go there and have a lot of fun.”
James was the 2012 ACC Freshman of the Year and is a three-time All-ACC honoree. 
“You walk into N.C. State with nine new friends and we’ve had a really close team since I have been there.  It has made the experience ten times better.  We are also a very diverse team.”
James comes from a golf family.  Her younger brother, Austin James, is currently a sophomore on the Charleston Southern golf team. Her father is also a head professional. 

CHEYENNE WOODS FINISHES WITH 70; ONTO STAGE III: Cheyenne Woods (Phoenix, Arizona) closed with a 2-under 70 to finish at 2-under 286 (74-72-70-70).  Woods finished in a tie for 12^th. 
The 24-year-old made two birdies on the front nine and was bogey-free on the day. 
Woods advanced to final stage of Qualifying Tournament last year, but missed the 72-hole cut and finished at 8-over-par.

LIV CHENG PLAYED WITH LYDIA KO AS AMATEUR: Liv Cheng (Manukau, New Zealand) remembers golfing on the same team as Rolex Women’s World Rankings No. 3 Lydia Ko in New Zealand. 
“I saw that she is now taller then Danielle Kang (who also went to Pepperdine),” said Cheng, who recently graduated with an economics degree from Pepperdine.  “I remember her when she was 12-years-old and just this tall (motioning to her shoulders).  She was still really good back then.”
Cheng played on the same team as Ko at the 2010 Junior Women’s Trans Tasman Cup. 
Cheng, who expects to turn professional in the near future, took a big step forward on Friday by shooting a 4-under 68 to finish at even-par 288 to advance.  Cheng entered the day right on the cut line.
“I made a bad bogey on the ninth hole and told myself to get it together and then I made four straight birdies on the back nine.”
Cheng was a four-time All-WCC first-team member and a three-time WGCA All-American Scholar.

NOTABLE PLAYERS THAT DIDN’T ADVANCE TO STAGE III: There were a few notable players that finished on the wrong side of the cut line and will not be advancing to final stage.
Emily Tubert – The Arkansas All-American earned medalist honors at Stage I of Qualifying Tournament, but carded a final round 4-over 76 and finished at 9-over 225 (76-72-73-76).
Grace Na (a) – The eighth ranked player in the country according to Golfweek out of Pepperdine shot herself in the foot with back-to-back scores of 79 on Tuesday and Wednesday and finished at 11-over 299 (71-79-79-70).
Madeleine Sheils – The Boise, Idaho native finished 40^th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list on the Symetra Tour, but carded an 80 on Wednesday and a 78 on Thursday and closed at 14-over 302 (72-80-78-72).


LEADING QUALIFIERS FOR STAGE 3

279 Ginger Howard 72 67 69 71
280 Alison Lee (am) 71 71 66 72
282 Annie Park (am) 70 71 71 70, Su Oh (am) 72 70 66 74
283 Karlin Beck 73 72 71 67, Samantha Richdale 74 69 71 69, Minjee Lee 72 67 74 70.

SELECTED QUALIFIERS
286 Cheyenne Woods 74 72 70 70 (T12)
287 Stephanie Meadow (N Ireland) 71 73 69 74 (T16)
290 Vikki Laing (Scotland) 76 70 74 70 (T41).

MISSED THE CUT (295 and better qualified for Stage 3)
299 Kylie Walker (Scotland) 75 70 80 74 (T118)

Field of 190 players

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