Alison Murdoch

seeking fifth Irish

seniors title

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNIONCanadian International Alison Murdoch defends her Irish Senior Women’s Open Stroke-play title when competitors tee up at Laytown and Bettystown Golf Club next week (September 8-10).
Murdoch, pictured with the trophy, will be looking to claim her second consecutive title and fifth in the last 7 years. Strongest challenger for the 2010 crown is likely to be Ireland's Helen Jones who finished third at the European Senior Women's Individual in Austria in June while Wales' Vicki Thomas, who has won the event in 2006 & 2008, is sure to feature on the final day.

Fellow Canadians Diane Williams, Karen Pultz and Lynda Palahniuk lead the sizeable party from North America in a field of 66 which includes competitors from England, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.
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 British Seniors Open at West Kilbride on the Ayrshire coast.
With the full Irish squad from the Senior Women’s European Team Championship in action, home favourite Phil O’Gorman looks next best after Jones 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 next Wednesday and Thursday 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 Sheringham in England, starting September 28, 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).


TEE TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
08:30 Catherine Kavanagh (Mitchelstown) Catherine Carty (Tullamore) Patricia McAllister (Laytown & Bettystown)
08:40 Alice O'Neill (Laytown and Bettystown) Angela Mullins (Mitchelstown) Elizabeth Neville (Athenry)
08:50 Valerie Shannon (Lahinch) Barbara Biggart (SCO) Anna Moloney (Clonmel)
09:00 Marita Leech (Laytown & Bettystown) Elaine Elborn (Bangor) Judy Clarke (Royal Portrush)
09:10 Hilary Smyth (ENG) Carmel Cahill (Hermitage) Mary McGoey (Greenore)
09:20 Mai McCann (Narin & Portnoo) Maida McGowan (Laytown & Bettystown) Dorothy Thomson (SCO)
09:30 Mairead MacNamara (Woodbrook) Judy Collins (CAN) Gill Rouiller (Mannan Castle)
09:40 Trudy Brosnan (Kanturk) Roma English (Larne) Ann McAuley (Laytown and Bettystown)
09:50 Denise Parker (ENG) Olivia Conroy (Co. Longford) Ann Monteith (Slieve Russell)
10:00 Heidi Simpson (USA) Patsy McCarthy (Grange) Kath Stewart-Moore (Royal Portrush)
10:10 Linda Ward (CAN) Maj-Britt Laempe (SWE) Fionnuala McGrady (Dunmurry)
10:30 Sheila Bodmer (SWI) Mary Geaney (Killarney) Sonja Gottschalch (DEN)
10:40 Diane Williams (CAN) Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) Jean O'Connor (WAL)
10:50 Alison Murdoch (CAN) Pat Doran (Donabate) Catherine Reilly (The Heath)
11:00 Valerie Hassett (Ennis) Marianne Copp (ENG) Pamela Williamson (SCO)
11:10 Vicki Thomas (WAL) Phil O'Gorman (Laytown and Bettystown) Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire)
11:20 Pauline Walsh (Headfort ) Elisabeth Wendels (SWE) Susan Penman (SCO)
11:30 Karen Pultz (CAN) Helen Jones (Strabane) Mary Madden (Ballinasloe)
11:40 Kate Evans (ENG) Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock) Jane Gardner (Malone)
11:50 Lynda Palahniuk (CAN) Sheena McElroy (Grange) Rhona Brennan (Bandon)
12:00 Cornelia Fischer (GER), Adrienne Crowley (Woodbrook), Mary Kavanagh (New Ross).