Olivia Mehaffey masters weather - and Irish 

open stroke field

By SARAH CROWE

Irish Ladies Golf Union

An orange status weather warning was put in place for the final day of the Irish Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship at the Island Golf Club. 51 players took to the course in swirling winds, but ready for battle.

The final group of Olivia Mehaffey (RCDL), Chloe Williams (Wales) and Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) teed off at 10:50. Mehaffey started the day one shot clear of Chloe Williams but her lead was extended to five shots through the front nine after Williams suffered three double bogeys and three bogeys. 

Despite an impressive eagle at the par 4 8th, it took Williams 44 shots (+7) to complete the front nine. Mehaffey dropped three shots on the front nine but turned in 40 (+3) to still hold a substantial lead.

Jessica Ross slowly crept up the leaderboard and turned in 41 (+4) to share second place with Chloe Williams. Chloe Ryan was +6 through nine to sit in 4th place on her own. It was all to play for on the back nine but required the chasing pack to go low in order to catch up on the world number 9. 

A steady back nine considering the conditions saw Mehaffey come home in 39 shots to card the joint best score of the day, 79. An 83 by Ryan and 87 from Williams placed them 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

Winners
Nations Cup 451
IRELAND Team A
Maria Dunne
Olivia Mehaffey
Chloe Ryan
 
Best Gross 1st 18 76 Samantha Giles (England)
Best Gross 2nd 18 72 Fiona Liddell (GER)
Best Gross 3rd 18 79 Hannah McCook (SCO) on back 9 from Inci Mehmet (England) & Aedin Murphy
 
2nd Nett Overall  236 Celina Rosa Sattelkau (GER) 1 – 76, 78, 82
Best Nett Overall 235 Valerie Clancy (Killarney) 2, - 80, 70, 85
 
Cathy Smith Trophy for Under 18s 221 Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) 78, 72, 84
 
4th place 233 Jessica Ross (Donaghadee) 75, 73, 85
3rd place 232 Chloe Williams (Wales) 75, 70, 87
2nd place 231 Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) 77, 71, 83
Champion  223 Olivia Mehaffey (RCDL) 69, 75, 79

RESULTS R1 & R2
R1 Par 74 SSS 77 CSS 80 R2
Par 74 SSS 77 CSS 77
*R3 (reduction only) Par 74 SSS 77 CSS 80