Emma defends Lancome Irish girls' title next week

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Irish girl international Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion) will defend her Lancôme Irish Girls' Close title, won at Castletroy last year, when competitors tee off at Grange Golf Club, Dublin, 13-16 July 2010.
O’Driscoll will face stiff opposition from International team mates Patrice Delaney (Birr), Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) and Paula Grant (Lisburn) to name but a few. Grant, last year’s runner-up, may prove her strongest challenge as the 16 year old outshone a class field at Clandeboye to lift the title at the Ulster Women’s Championship last week.
Another name to watch is Jessica Carty (Holywood) who won the Muwick Cup last year as the leading qualifier. Carty has already claimed the “Plate” trophy at the Lancôme Irish Women’s Close at Portstewart earlier this year and has recently been selected once again to represent Ireland at the U16 European Young Masters in Hungary along with fellow competitor Chloe Ryan (Castletroy).
Noticeable absentees from this year’s class field are Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell), Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell), Laura McCarthy (Muskerry) and Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) who are all unavailable as they defend their Gold medal at the European Girls’ Team Championships in Denmark.
An additional incentive for the field will be the announcement on Friday 16th July of the eight-player Irish team to compete in the Girls Home Internationals on home soil at Bangor, 4-6 August. The team will be captained by Ailish McCartan (Greenore) and managed by Aisling O’Leary (Wexford).
A total of  72 competitors play 18 holes stroke-play on Tuesday and Wednesday next week with the top 32 players qualifying for match-play that afternoon ahead of the crowning of the champion on Friday afternoon.

TEE TIMES FOR TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY, JULY 13-14
08:30 Tues and 10:30 Wed: Julie Coyne (Youghal) Emma Murphy (Wexford) Jessica Boal (Larne)
08:40 10:20 Edel Coyne (Youghal) Siobhan Greene (Holywood) Olivia Mehaffey (Ryl Co Down)
08:50 10:20 Sarah Boden (Kilkeel) Gillian Reilly (Abbeyleix) Darcey Carr (Milltown)
09:00 10:00 Patrice Delaney (Birr) Jenny Hennessy (Ennis) Emily McGuinness (Greenore)
09:10 09:50 Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion) Megan Thompson (Ballyclare) Sarah Helly (Enniscrone)
09:20 09:40 Amy Farrell (Moate) Jessica Carty (Holywood) Anna Courtney (St. Anne's)
09:30 09:30 Laura Fekkes (Larne) Sarah Murray (Co. Louth) Eadaoin Cronin (Bantry Bay)
09:40 09:20 Paula Grant (Lisburn) Kelsey Coey (Clandeboye) Chloe Ryan (Castletroy)
09:50 08:00 Jenny Sykes (Dun Laoghaire) Ashley Constantine (Stackstown) Avril Peevers (Tralee)
10:00 08:10 Amy Gillen (Co. Meath) Naomi James (Castlewarden) Rebecca O'Neill (Larne)
10:10 08:20 Lisa O'Shea (Shannon) Emma Dunne (Castlewarden) Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel)
10:20 08:30 Shannen Brown (The Heath) Chloe Weir (Shandon Park) Laura Doherty (Howth)
10:30 08:40 Tyne McGee (Malone) Rebecca O'Regan (Newlands) Michelle Tierney (Waterford Castle)
10:40 08:50 Jenny Maguire (Foxrock) Blaithin O'Brien (Roscommon) Savannah Thompson (Bangor)
10:50 09:00 Amy Chambers (Dunfanaghy) Holly Robinson (Co. Sligo) Sinead Sexton (Lahinch)
11:00 09:10 Jean O'Driscoll (Muskerry) Laura Grant (Lisburn) Chloe Fitzpatrick (The Heath)
11:10 09:20 Aisling Hill (Roscommon) Shauna Brady (Co. Sligo) Hannah Henderson (Ballyclare)
11:20 09:30 Roisin Brady (Mannan Castle) Rebecca Tully (Holywood) Sarah Fay (Westmanstown)
11:30 09:40 Amber Gleeson (Castle) Rebecca Weir (Larne) Niamh Ward (Lurgan)
11:40 09:50 Aileen Harnett (Milltown) Victoria Craig (Clandeboye) Jill O'Driscoll (Muskerry)
11:50 10:00 Eimear Delaney (Birr) Katie Allen (Lurgan) Mary Doyle (The Heath)
12:00 10:10 April Timothy (Roscommon) Miren Maguire (Foxrock) Rachel Taylor (Laytown & Bettystown)
12:10 10:20 Chloe Burke (Roscommon) Judithe Allen (Greenisland) Chloe Duggan (Lahinch)
12:20 10:30 Nicola Stokes (Laytown & Bettystown) Saoirse O'Donoghue (Tara Glen) Zoe Black (Bangor)
Waitlist
1. Joanna Turley (Tara Glen)
2. Jill Jennings (Carlow)