FLYING FINN MINNA LEADS IRISH SENIOR WOMEN'S OPEN

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNIONFinland’s Minna Kaarnalahti leads the field after an opening 78 in gale force winds and rain at the Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay at Greenore.
In atrocious golfing conditions, Kaarnalahti’s started steadily with three bogeys on the outward nine and an inspirational birdie at the short tenth saw her safely home on six over par, one stroke ahead of defending champion Helen Jones (Strabane).
Debutante Carol Wickham (Laytown and Bettystown) lived up to her pre- tournament billing with a comfortable 80 alongside Senior Internationals Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) and Mairead MacNamara (Woodbrook) while surprise packet Fionnuala McGrady (Dunmurry) matched them stroke for stroke.
On a day that saw the overseas visitors struggle in the gusting winds off Carlingford Lough, Vicki Thomas (WAL), Ivy Steinberg (CAN), Marleen Hijhof (BEL) and Diane Williams (CAN) failed to make inroads on the lead of the flying Finn.
Indeed, the chasing pack is unusually littered with Irish players unaccustomed to such lofty leaderboard heights at the close of play on the first day.
A further 18 hole strokeplay on Thursday, will see the field cut to 40 for the final round on Friday.
Ireland A leads the team event from Ireland B while Wales and Canada follow closely behind.

FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 73. CSS 77
78 Minna Kaarnalahti (Finland)
79 Helen Jones (Strabane)
80 Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) Mairead MacNamara (Woodbrook) Fionnuala McGrady (Dunmurry) Carol Wickham (Laytown and Bettystown)
81 Sheena McElroy (Grange) Catherine Reilly (The Heath)
82 Pat Doran (Donabate) Valerie Shannon (Lahinch)
83 Jean O'Connor (Wales) Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna)
84 Mary McKenna (Donabate) Gertie McMullen (The Island) Alison Bartlett (Scotland) Diane Williams (Canada)
85 Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast) Vicki Thomas (Wales) Sigrid Johannesen (Denmark) Ruth Lindley (England) Kay McCartan (Greenore)
86 Mary Madden (Ballinasloe) Sally Casey (Seapoint) Mary McGoey (Greenore) Adrienne Crowley (Woodbrook) Carmel Cahill (Hermitage) Valerie Hassett (Ennis) Gill Rouiller (Mannan Castle) Kate Evans (Frilford Heath)
87 Mary Young (Canada) Pamela Williamson (Scotland) Ivy Steinberg (Canada) Pauline Walsh (Headfort)
89 Olivia Conroy (Co. Longford) Grainne Killen (Kilkeel) Eileen MacMullen (Bundoran) Ita Donnelly (Dundalk) Sue Pidgeon (England) Marleen Nijhof (Belgium) Mary Kavanagh (New Ross) Jackie Quinn (Co. Louth)
90 Catherine Owens (Ballinasloe) Judy Collins (Canada) Jacinta Deane (Greystones)
91 Rosemary Howell (Co. Louth) Mary Mather (Cill Dara) Helen O'Donoghue (Clonmel) Rita O'Loughlin (Mannan Castle) Roma English (Larne) Ginny Marshall (Canada)
93 Bonnie Schmidt (Canada) Marilyn Cox (Canada) Patsy McCarthy (Grange) Cindy Beaudet (Canada)
94 Sheila Bodmer (Switzerland) Pat Bennett (England) Sally Mathurin (England) Eva Heikamp (Denmark)
95 Ann McAuley (Laytown and Bettystown) Elizabeth Neville (Athenry) Sue Turner (Canada
96 Helen Castonguay (Canada) Ann Monteith (Slieve Russell) Cornelia Fischer (Germany)
97 Allyson Harrison (Canada) Mary Hutch (Greystones)
98 Diana Maughan (Canada)
99 Brenda Samis (Canada)
100 Penny Gleeson (Milltown)
101 Margaret Boomer (Lisburn) Heidi Simpson (United States)
108 Breda Farrell (Curra West)
NR Michele Quinn (Dundalk)

NATIONS CUP (2 scores from 3 to count)
160 IRELAND A (Pat Doran [82] Helen Jones 79 Sheena McElroy 81)
163 IRELAND B (Suzanne Corcoran 83 Gertie McMullen [84] Carol Wickham 80)
168 WALES (Jean O'Connor 83 Vicki Thomas 85)
171 CANADA A (Ginny Marshall [91] Ivy Steinberg 87 Diane Williams 84)
171 SCOTLAND (Alison Bartlett 84 Pamela Williamson 87)
174 ENGLAND A (Ruth Lindley 85 Sue Pidgeon 89)
179 DENMARK (Eva Heikamp 94 Sigrid Johannesen 85)
180 CANADA B (Cindy Beaudet 93 Allyson Harrison [94] Mary Young 87)
188 ENGLAND B (Pat Bennett 94 Sally Mathurin 94)