WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL FOUR-BALL

IRISH PLAYER IN FINAL OF
FLORIDA TOURNAMENT
Marian Riordan from Tipperary and her Florida-based partner, Mary Ann Plunkett, are through to the final of the 59th Women’s International Four-ball Tournament at Orangebrook Country Club, Hollywood in Florida.
Top seeds after leading the stroke-play qualifying competition, Marian and Mary Ann won their Thursday semi-final against Taffry Brower (Boyton Beach) and Diane Lang (Weston) by 3 and 2.
Ireland international player Marian, 24, finished her Masters degree at University Colllege, Dublin before Christmas and decided to play the Florida Orange Blossom Tour for female amateurs to get ready for the new season back home.
Miss Riordan finished 10th in the Harder Hall Invitational earlier in the month. It was at that tournament that Marian and Mary Ann Plunkett met for the first time. They hit it off right away and decided to team up for the Women’s International Four-ball tournament, which rings the curtain down on the 2005 Orange Blossom Tour.
In the other semi-final, local player Ronnie Hall (Hollywood) and Melissa Pucciarelli (Argentina) had to go to the 21st hole before getting the better of Michelle Hartnell (Miami) and Paula Fitzpatrick (Homestead).
Michelle and Paula had toppled the defending champions, Marlene Streit (Canada) and Carole Semple Thompson (United States), by 3 and 2 in the first round of the match-play stages.
The Women’s International Four-ball tournament is the longest-running women’s amateur event to be held at the same location in the United States.
The format is better-ball pairs match-play after the qualifying round. The entry fee was $150 per pairing.
THURSDAY’S RESULTS
SEMI-FINALS
Mary Ann Plunkett (Florida) & Marian Riordan (Ireland) bt Taffy Brower (Boyton Beach) & Diane Lang (Weston) 3 and 2.
Ronnie Hall (Hollywood) & Melissa Pucciarelli (Argentina) bt Michelle Hartnell (Miami) & Paula Fitzpatrick (Homestead) at 21st.
FRIDAY’S 18-HOLE FINAL
Plunkett & Riordan v Hall & Pucciarelli.