Leona Maguire leads Irish championship

by SEVEN strokes after first Q round

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell), the 2008 champion, carded a stunning five-under-par 69 over the 6,288yd Strand Course at Portstewart to lead the field by seven strokes at the end of the first qualifying round in the Lancome Irish women's (close) championship today.
In glorious sunshine but with a stiff easterly morning breeze, 15-year-old Leona birdied the par 4 first. She followed up with birdies at the seventh, ninth 10th and 17th in a quite incredible bogey-free round.
Sinead O’Sullivan (Galway) and twin sister Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell), the defending champion, both shot two over par rounds of 76. Sinead had a bogey-birdie start and then had an unfortunate double bogey on the par 5 fourth.
She steadied herself and produced birdies at the 10th and 16th and, despite a bogey on the 17th, was one under par on the back nine.
Lisa matched her sister with a birdie start and another at the fourth but a double bogey at the ninth brought her back to level par. She remained level until a bogey at 16 and a three-putt at 18th resulted in two over par round of 76.
Nine-handicapper Jenny Hennessy (Ennis) produced an amazing round of 77 (net 68) and lies in fourth place. Jenny who turned 17 earlier this month, birdied the first and second, both tough par 4 holes, and had another birdie on the par 5 17th. Certainly a name to watch out for.
FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 74, SS 77, CSS 77. Yardage: 6,288
69 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell).
76 Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway), Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell).
77 Maura Diamond (Royal Portrush), Jenny Hennessy (Ennis).
78 Karen Delaney (Carlow), Maria Dunne (Skerries).
79 Gillian O'Leary (Cork), Mary Dowling (New Ross), Deirdre Smith (Co Louth).
80 Jennifer Gannon (Co Louth), Louise Coffey (Malone), Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint), Niamh Kitching (Limerick), Charlene Reid (Royal Portrush), Anne McCormack (Roscommon).
81 Gertie McMullen (The Island), Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor), Gemma McClenaghan (Greencastle), Kate Gallagher (Claremorris).
83 Karen O'Neill (Douglas), Lesley Hemphill (Portstewart), Vivienne Houston (City of Derry), Violet McBride (Belvoir Park), Holly Robinson (Co Sligo), Sue Phillips (Woodbrook), Laura McCarthy (Muskerry).
84 Helen Jones (Strabane), Pat Doran (Donabate), Sarah Helly (Enniscrone), Linda Toomey (Limerick).
85 Lisa McMeekin (Massereene), Naoimh Quigg (City of Derry), Sandra Atkinson (Woodbrook).
86 Amy Farrell (Moate).
87 Caroline Murphy (Grange), Aisling Parker (Greenore), Nicola Coffey (Woodbrook).
88 Pauline Walsh (Headfort) Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock).90 Kate Evans (Frilford Heath), Niamh O'Connor (Woodbrook).
91 Jessica Carty (Holywood), Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire).
93 Louise Hanratty (Mannan Castle), Melanie Mitchell (Royal Portrush).
97 Hannah Henderson (Ballyclare), Roisin Brady (Mannan Castle).
99 Ann Monteith (Castlehume), Una McQuillan (K Club).
100 Fiona Farrell (Swords Open).
101 Patsy McCarthy (Grange).
105 Catherine Owens (Ballinasloe).
109 Claire McGonagle (Portsalon).
Sandra Barnett
Irish Ladies Golf Union