CANADIAN MURDOCH DEFENDS IRISH

SENIORS' TITLE


NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Canadian International Alison Murdoch defends her Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay title when competitors tee up at Laytown and Bettystown Golf Club, from Wednesday to Friday this week (September 8 to 10).

Murdoch will be looking to claim her second consecutive title and 5th in the last 7 years. Strongest challenger for the 2010 crown is likely to be Ireland's Helen Jones who finished 3rd at the European Senior Women's Individual in Austria in June while Wales' Vicki Thomas, who has won the event in 2006 and 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 team in action, fresh from their 4th place finish at the Senior Women’s European Team Championship last week, home favourite Phil O’Gorman and in-form Sheena McElroy (Grange) look 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 strokeplay rounds on Wednesday and Thursday with the top 40 qualifying for the final 18 holes on Friday. Following the Championship, the Irish Seniors Team to play at the Seniors Home Internationals at Sheringham in England, 28th 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).

TEE TIMES - WEDNESDAY
08:20 Helen O'Donoghue (Clonmel) Jenny Cagney (Lahinch)
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) Gemma Butler (Birr)
09:20 Mai McCann (Narin & Portnoo) Maida McGowan (Laytown and 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)


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