LANCOME IRISH WOMEN'S CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP at CARLOW GC

TOURNAMENT LEADER Louise Mernagh in action (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency).


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On a cold, wet and windy May day, Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) returned the best score with a level par round of 74 on the 6,136 yard Carlow course . Louise had a great birdie-birdie start, despite nursing a throbbing toothache and had two further birdies on the back none on the par 4 holes – the 12th(339 yards) and the 15th (350 yards).
With weather conditions deteriorating as the day progressed, Helen Jones (Strabane), current Irish Senior Open Stroke Play Champion, returned an impressive, one-over 75 which included birdies at the first, fifth and 14th holes. Helen clearly enjoyed the course. Her last outing at Carlow was when the Interprovincial matches were staged here in 1997.
Past three times champion (1990-92-95) Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) has certainly not lost any of her golfing finesse. She carded a 77 to lie joint third with Louise Coffey (Malone).

Reigning champion Mary Dowling (New Ross) returned a very respectable 78 and is tied fourth with another past champion and local favourite Karen Delaney (Carlow), as well as Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co. Down Ladies) who is looking to add this title to her impressive CV.

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD

Par 74, SSS 76, CSS 77

74 Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge)

75 Helen Jones (Strabane)

77 Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny), Louise Coffey (Malone)

78 Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down Ladies), Karen Delaney (Carlow), Mary Dowling (New Ross)
79 Sheena McElroy (Grange), Charlene Reid (Royal Portrush)
80 Ciara Butler (Newlands), Pat Doran (Donabate), Sue Phillips (Woodbrook) Alison Taylor (Malahide)
81 Ariana Coyle Diez (Elm Park), Chloe Ryan (Castletroy), Mary Sheehy (Tralee)
82 Aedin Murphy (Carlow), Gillian O'Leary (Cork), Sarah Helly (Enniscrone), Karen O'Neill (Douglas), Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth)
82 Lucy Simpson (Massereene)
83 Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor), Gertie McMullen (Island), Jean O'Driscoll (Muskerry), Sarah Murray (Co. Louth), Mary Leahy Browne (Kilkenny)
84 Madeleine Brennan (Carlow)
85 Doireann Carney (Galway), Kate Gallagher (Claremorris), Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint), Emma Murphy (Rosslare), Victoria Craig (Clandeboye). Nicola Coffey (Woodbrook), Claire Keating (Killarney), Jennifer Russell (Belvoir Park),
Lily Owens (Malahide), Niamh O'Connor (Woodbrook)
86 Patrice Delaney (Birr), Eileen O'Brien (Clontarf)
87 Niamh Ward (Lurgan), Rebecca Tully (Holywood)
88 Catherine Reilly (The Heath), Orla Barry (Galway)
89 Shauna O'Brien (Clonmel), Jill Pierse (Grange)
90 Hannah Henderson (Ballyclare) Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) Carmel Roche (Carlow)
91 Anne McCormack (Roscommon), Anna Moloney (Clonmel), Louise Hanratty (Mannan Castle)
92 Bernie Cox (Carlow), Maria Dunne (Skerries), Shannen Brown (The Heath) Ann McAuley (Laytown and Bettystown), Holly Robinson (Co. Sligo),Catherine Delaney (Carlow)
93 Carmel Cahill (Hermitage), Meadhbh Doyle (Portarlington), Ann Monteith (Slieve Russell)
94 Aoife Barry (Muskerry), Patsy McCarthy (Grange), Emer Foley (Castlecomer), Darcey Carr (Milltown)
96 Honoria Fogarty (Castlecomer), Ruth Maguire (Corrstown)
97 Rebecca O'Regan (Newlands), Mary Doyle (The Heath) Cliodhna McCarthy (Stackstown)
106 Orla Murray (Tramore)
107 Leigh Bolger (Carlow)