THREE SHARE LEAD ON 77 IN IRISH SENIOR WOMEN'S QUALIFYING

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Defending champion Sheena McElroy (Grange) fired an opening 78 to be ideally placed to challenge for a third title in four years at the Irish Senior Women’s Close Championship at Adare Manor Golf Club today.
In sporadic downpours, causing the suspension of play for thirty minutes at one point, past international Helen Jones (Strabane), Pauline Walsh (Headfort) and ILGU Chief Executive Sinead Heraty (Castle), making her championship debut, topped the leader board after impressive 77s.
Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna), Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast) and Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) were next best on 79, one behind McElroy, while Seniors’ Internationals Pat Doran (Donabate), Catherine Reilly (The Heath) and Gemma Butler (Birr) were well placed to qualify for tomorrow afternoon’s match-play after an 81.
Past senior internationals Valerie Hassett (Ennis), Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire), Mary McKenna (Donabate) and Mary Madden (Ballinasloe) will need to shoot in the seventies if they are to make the match-play stages.
Competitors play a second 18 holes tomorrow, Wednesday, with the top eight qualifying for the championship. Two more match-play rounds will see the champion crowned Thursday afternoon, while a Plate entertains a further eight qualifiers.

FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND
77 Helen Jones (Strabane), Sinead Heraty (Castle), Pauline Walsh (Headfort).
78 Sheena McElroy (Grange).
79 Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna), Kate Evans (Frilford Heath), Violet McBride (Belvoir Park), Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast).
80 Gertie McMullen (The Island)
81 Catherine Reilly (The Heath), Pat Doran (Donabate), Gemma Butler (Birr).
83 Mary Geaney (Killarney).
84 Valerie Hassett (Ennis) Valerie Shannon (Lahinch) Terry Sexton (Dun Laoghaire)
85 Elizabeth Neville (Athenry) Trudy Brosnan (Kanturk) Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) Adrienne Crowley (Woodbrook)
86 Brid Naughton (Adare Manor) Mairead MacNamara (Woodbrook) Mary McKenna (Donabate) Catherine Kavanagh (Mitchelstown) Ann Monteith (Slieve Russell) Veronica MacGreevy (RCDL) Patsy McCarthy (Grange) Mary Madden (Ballinasloe)
88 Eileen MacMullen (Bundoran) Pamela Morgan (Lahinch) Sally Casey (Seapoint)
89 Paula Murray (Naas) Rhona Brennan (Bandon) Helen O'Donoghue (Clonmel) Roma English (Larne)
90 Mary Crowley (Castletroy) Julie Barkman (Nenagh)
91 Christine Desmond (Adare Manor) Mary Mather (Cill Dara) Penny Gleeson (Milltown)
92 Carmel Cahill (Hermitage) Marie Moran (Monkstown) Mary Culliton (The Heath)
93 Ann McAuley (Laytown & Bettystown) Catherine Owens (Ballinasloe)
95 Breda Farrell (Curra West)
96 Marie Conlon (The Heath)
99 Carol Kinsella (Faithlegg)
100 Miriam Murphy (Bandon)
104 Anna Somers (Cill Dara)