High Winds and Low Shots dominate play at Rosapenna for Irish Women’s Close Championship

IRISH LGU NEWS RELEASE

Some magnificent golf was played in challenging conditions for the first day of the match-play stages of the Irish women's close champions at Rosapenna.

Jessica Carty (Holywood) turned in 3 under par after carding a birdie at the 1^st and an eagle at the 6^th to beat past Irish Close Champion, Karen Delaney (Carlow) 6 and 5. 

Gillian O’Leary (Island) also secured a notable win against current International Jessica Ross (Donaghadee). 

Katie Aherne (Waterford Castle) had a tough match on her hands against Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) as Tara secured an early eagle on the par 5 sixth  and followed this with three  birdies on 11, 13 and 18 to win by two holes.

Among the losers was former GB and I international Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) whose twin Leona did not enter the championship because of the Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe, starting at Malone GC, Belfast on Friday.

Championship favourite Olivia Mehaffey (Royal Co Down Ladies ) cruised through to round two with a 5 and 4 win and was joined by fellow Internationals Sinead Sexton (Lahinch), Ciara Casey (Hermitage), Maria Dunne (Skerries), Jessica Carty (Holywood), Chloe Ryan (Castletroy), Paula Grant (Lisburn), Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) and 2014 Irish Close Champion, Mary Doyle (The Heath).

Play had commenced in strong winds. Sensible course management seemed to be the choice of the day for players as they relied on irons and woods off the tee in the hope of hitting the fairway.

 RESULTS

CHAMPIONSHIP

FIRST ROUND 

Olivia Mehaffey (Royal Co Down Ladies) bt Barbara Cooney (Laytown and Bettystown) 5 and 4
Sinead Sexton (Lahinch) bt Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe) 7&5
Ciara Casey (Hermitage) bt Jean O'Driscoll (Muskerry) 1 hole.

Meadhbh Doyle (Portarlington) bt Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) 5 and 4
Maria Dunne (Skerries) bt Ailish McCartan (Greenore) 3&2
Jessica Carty (Holywood) bt Karen  Delaney (Carlow)  6 and 5  
Laura Doherty (Howth)  bt Mary Dowling (New Ross) 6 and 5
Shannen Brown (The Heath) bt Niamh Ward (Lurgan) 5 and 3
Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) bt Fiona Farrell (Skerries) 3 and 2
Gillian O'Leary (The Island) bt Jessica Ross (Donaghadee) 3 and 2   
Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) bt Valerie Clancy (Killarney) 3 and 2  
Paula Grant (Lisburn) bt Roisin Brady (Co. Louth)  2 and 1
Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) bt Nicole McGavisk (Donabate) 7 and 6   
Mary Doyle (The Heath) bt Sophie Harrison (Killeen Castle) at 19^th
Louise Coffey (Malone) bt Victoria Craig (Royal Belfast) 2 and 1  
Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) bt Katie Aherne (Waterford Castle) 2 holes.

MONDAY'S SECOND ROUND TIES

08:30 Mehaffey v Sinead Sexton

08:39 Casey v Meadhbh Doyle

08:48 Dunne v Carty

08:57 Doherty v Brown 

09:06 Helly v O’Leary

09:15 Ryan v Grant

09:24 McSherry v Mary Doyle   

09:33 Coffey v Gribben

PLATE MATCH-PLAY

FIRST ROUND

Elisa Corcoran (Grange) bt Kate Dwyer (Rossmore) 4 and 3
Claire McGonagle (Portsalon) bt Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo) 3 and 2
Jenny Sykes (Dun Laoghaire) bt Noreen Maloney (Oughterard) 1 hole.
Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down Ladies) bt Catherine McCanny (City of Derry) at 19^th
Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) bt Rachel Thompson (Cork) 6 and 4
Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) bt Sara Byrne (Douglas) 3 and 2
Maeve Kelly (Castle Dargan) bt Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden)  2 and 1
Deborah MmcCooke (Galgorm Castle) bt Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) at  20^th

 SECOND ROUND

McGonagle bt Corcoran at 19th.

McVeigh bt Sykes 2 and 1.

Cummins bt Houston 3 and 1
 Kelly bt McCooke 2 and 1

MONDAY'S SEMI-FINALS

McGonagle v McVeigh  

Cummins v Kelly (Castle Dargan)

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