Vicki Thomas to defend Irish senior title

at Layton & Bettystown next week

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Welsh International Vicki Thomas defends her Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay title when competitors tee up at Laytown and Bettystown Golf Club, 8-10 September 2009.In last year’s event, Thomas holed from eight feet for birdie at the last to defeat Strabane’s Helen Jones by one stroke. It was Thomas’ second title in three years having notched her first win in Woodbrook in 2006.
Canadians Diane Williams, Phyllis Laschuk and Ivy Steinberg filled the next three places and once again a sizeable party from north America are travelling to this year’s event. The field of eighty includes competitors from England, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland.
This year’s tournament is as competitive as ever with the majority of the field availing of the additional practice in advance of the following week’s Senior British Open at Pyle and Kenfig in Wales. With the full Irish squad from the Senior Women’s European Team Championship in action, home favourite Phil O’Gorman looks the most likely to secure an Irish victory, the first since Mary McKenna’s successful outing at Baltray in 2001.
The field will play two 18 hole stroke-play rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday with the top 40 qualifying for the final 18 holes on Thursday. Following the Championship, the Irish Seniors Team to play at the Seniors Home Internationals at Newport in Wales, 29th September, will be announced. Positions in the side will be determined by ranking in the Order of Merit and wildcard picks selected by Team Captain Roma English (Larne).
ORDER OF PLAY, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
08:30 Patricia Kelly (Limerick) Maria Leech (Laytown & Bettystown).
08:40 Barbara Biggart (SCO) Patricia McAllister (Laytown & Bettystown).
08:50 Deborah Court (CAN) Ita Donnelly (Dundalk) Mairead MacNamara (Woodbrook).
09:00 Una Bready (Belvoir Park) Alice O'Neill (Laytown & Bettystown).
09:10 Carol Kinsella (Faithlegg) Michele Quinn (Dundalk) Heidi Simpson (USA).
09:20 Ann McAuley (Laytown & Bettystown) Finola Duncan (Bangor) Mai McCann (Narin & Portnoo)
09:30 Janice Paterson (SCO) Catherine Carty (Tullamore) Carmel Cahill (Hermitage).
09:40 Kitty Duffy (Dundalk) Catherine Shortall (Laytown & Bettystown).
09:50 Sue Pidgeon (ENG) Jane Gardner (Malone) Pamela Morgan (Lahinch).
10:10 Marie Conlon (The Heath) Kathleen Hynes (Ardee) Judy Clarke (Royal Portrush).
10:20 Elisabeth Wendels (SWE) Catherine Reilly (The Heath) Pauline Walsh (Headfort)
10:30 Val Shannon (Douglas) Valerie James (Bangor) Britt-Marie Walltorp (SWE)
10:40 Olivia Conroy (Co. Longford) Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) Phil O'Gorman (Laytown & Bettystown)
10:50 Sue Joy-Sobota (USA) Adrienne Crowley (Woodbrook) Roma English (Larne).
11:00 Cornelia Fischer (GER) Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock) Valerie Hassett (Ennis).
11:10 Patsy McCarthy (Grange) Kathleen Pyne (New Ross) Concepta Maddick (Mannan Castle)
11:20 Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) Marianne Copp (ENG) Mary McGoey (Greenore)
11:30 Ann Conway (New Ross) Rita O'Loughlin (Mannan Castle) Dinah Campion (The Heritage)
11:40 Alison Murdoch (CAN) Ruth Lindley (ENG) Sheena McElroy (Grange)
11:50 Mary Geaney (Killarney) Noreen Granard (Portarlington) Mary Lowney (Dunmore)
12:10 Margaret Boomer (Lisburn) Gemma Jennings (Navan) Rita MacNamara (The Heath)
12:20 Karen Pultz (CAN) Mary Madden (Ballinasloe) Catherine Bird (Nenagh)
12:30 Nuala Acton (Hermitage) Maida McGowan (Laytown & Bettystown)Julie Barkman (Nenagh)
12:40 Joan McVeigh (Belvoir Park) Sheila Bodmer O'Keefe (SWI) Patricia Morris (Donabate)12:50 Vicki Thomas (WAL) Edeltraud Jacob (GER) Helen Jones (Strabane).
13:00 Helen O'Donoghue (Clonmel) Sonja Gottschalch (DEN) Marie Moran (Monkstown).
13:10 Diane Williams (CAN) Pamela Williamson (SCO) Pat Doran (Donabate).
13:20 Rhona Brennan (Bandon) Gill Rouiller (Mannan Castle) Barbara Moysey (CAN).
13:30 Kath Stewart-Moore (Royal Portrush) Mary Kavanagh (New Ross) Linda Ward (CAN)