Irish eyes are smiling in the half-gale

that is blowing at Royal Aberdeen

The Irish were coping best with the bad weather which arrived for the start of the British women’s open amateur championship at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club today..
Irish girl Louise Mernagh from the Woodenbridge club, Co Wicklow was the first to break 80 in a 25mph wind from the south which put about about four shots on to the inward par of 36.
Later, 19-year-old Ciara Butler from the Newlands club, Dublin took up the running with a 78. It soon became clear that any round under 80 was a very good performance.
Carnoustie-based Susan Simpson, the Ladies Golf Union’s Head of Golf Operations, moved several of the tees forward by as much as 30 yards on the inward ha
“I realised when I arrived at Balgownie this morning that a lot of players would not be able to hit the ball far enough into the wind to reach some of the fairways on the second nine,” said Susan.
“So I have gone round, moving the tee markers forward where I thought it necessary.”
The first two players to finish did not break 100. Christina Sparks from The Bedfordshire Golf Club took 104 blows, Emma Briggs (Chart Hills) had 101.
“The wind wasn’t even a help behind us on the way out,” said Emma. “Because we couldn’t stop the ball. Our pitches and even little chips just took off and ran through the greens.”
“It was the toughest course in the toughest conditions I have ever played,” said Christina.
Local Sammy Leslie from Westhill, a Scotland girl international, looked to be heading for a very high score when she took 47 shots for the “easier” half.
But Sammy got her head down and came home in 41 with four pars and five bogeys.
Earlier she had a triple bogey 7 at the first and another triple bogey 6 at the short third.
Louise Mernagh took the lead with halves of 38 and 41 for a 79..
She led by a shot from Wales’ Rhian Wyn Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan), with halves of 39 and 41, and Sian James (Bristol & Clifton), 38-42.
Tracey Boyes (Meon Valley), who had gone out in 36, and Curtis Cup teenager Carly Booth (Comrie) both returned a score of 82.
“I struggled on the greens in that wind. The ball was bobbling about,” said Carly who had halves of 41.
Ciara Butler from the Newlands club had the best outward half of 35 as the first half of the field went through the turn. And she held it together well into the elements – rain started to fall around lunchtime – to come home in 43 (seven over par) for a 78.

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72 (36-36). 6,231yd
78 Clara Butler (Newlands) 35-43.
79 Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) 38-41, Laura Murray (Alford) 36-43,
80 Rhian Wyn Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 39-41, Sian James (Bristol & Clifton) 38-42..
81 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle).39-42, Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar).
82 Tracey Boyes (Meon Valley) 36-46, Myrte Eikenaar (Netherlands) 40-42, Carly Booth (Comrie) 41-41..
83 Laura Charlier (Belgium) 40-43.
84 Chrisje De Vries (Netherlands) 41-43.
85 Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 38-47.
86 Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 40-46.
87 Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor).39-48, Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) 40-47.
88 Sammy Leslie (Westhill) 47-41.
90 Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) 49-41, Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) 45-45.
92 Franziska Neef (Germany) 44-48.
95 Marion Ricordeau (France) 41-54, Donna Pocock (Murcar Links) 48-47, Sarah Attwood (Gog Magog) 47-48.
96 Morag MacPherson (Kilmarnock Barassie) 42-54.
98 Fiona Hay (Deeside) 50-48.
100 Amanda Johnston (Kings Hill).49-51
101 Emma Briggs (Chart Hills).49-52
104 Christine Sparks (The Bedfordshire) 52-52.