Valerie Hassett KOs leading qualifier

at Irish senior close championship

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Valerie Hassett (Ennis) played "out of her boots" to oust leading qualifier Pat Doran (Donabate) from the quarter finals of the 2010 Irish Senior Women’s Close Championship at Tullamore Golf Club today.
Hassett, who already dispatched Catherine Bird (Nenagh) in the previous round, raced to four up at the turn and although Doran pegged back 2 holes, Hassett holed from twenty five feet across the slope on sixteen to close out the match.
In an afternoon of shock results, Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) defeated current Seniors International Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) on the home green while Sheena McElroy (Grange) dispatched third qualifier Helen Jones (Strabane). In the final match of the afternoon, Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock) survived a late comeback by Pauline Walsh (Headfort) before edging home on the final green.
Hassett now meets Giblin in the first semi-final match in the morning while 2008 Champion McElroy takes on 2009 Champion Henderson for a place in tomorrow afternoon’s final.
Results:
SECOND ROUND
Pat Doran (Donabate) bt Gill Rouiller (Mannan Castle) 5 and 4.
Valerie Hassett (Ennis) bt Catherine Bird (Nenagh) 3 and 2.
Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) bt Catherine Carty (Tullamore) 4 and 3.
Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) bt Rhona Brennan (Bandon) 2 and 1.
Helen Jones (Strabane) bt Jane Gardner (Malone) 7 and 6.
Sheena McElroy (Grange) bt Mairead MacNamara (Woodbrook) 3 and 2.
Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock) bt Fionnuala McGrady (Dunmurry) 1 hole.
Pauline Walsh (Headfort) bt Mary Madden (Ballinasloe) 1 hole.

QUARTER-FINALS
Valerie Hassett (Ennis) bt Pat Doran (Donabate) 3 and 2.
Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) bt Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) 1 hole.
Sheena McElroy (Grange) bt Helen Jones (Strabane) 3 and 2.
Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock) bt Pauline Walsh (Headfort) 1 hole.