IRISH GIRLS CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP AT WATERFORD GC

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE IRISH LGU
Niamh Ward (Lurgan) defeated leading qualifier Jean O'Driscoll (Muskerry) in dramatic fashion .....  Niamh birdied the first hole but found herself one down to an eagle by Jean and was four down after six holes and looked out of the match.  
But Niamh dug deep and won the seventh, birdied the 10th and 13th and won the 14th to find herself one up and never looked back, winning out on the 18th. She had a remarkable 12 one putts!
In the second quarter final, Olivia Mehaffey (Royal Co. Down Ladies) beat Ariana Coyle Diez by 2 holes and will play Ward in tomorrow's semi final at 8am. 
Bottom of the draw saw Jessica Carty (Holywood) defeat joint leading qualifier Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) 2 and 1.  Jessica will face Mary Doyle (The Heath) who had a tight match against Victoria Craig, the match was all square playing 18 with Mary winning the final hole with a par and Victoria unlucky to just miss her par putt.

Thursday 19th July

Round 1
Jean O'Driscoll (Muskerry) bt Meadhbh Doyle (Portarlington) 3 and 2
Niamh Ward (Lurgan) bt Hannah Henderson (Ballyclare) 3 and 2
Ariana Coyle Diez (Elm Park) bt Laura Doherty (Howth) 5 and 4
Olivia Mehaffey (RCD Ladies) bt Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) 2 and 1  
Victoria Craig (Clandeboye) bt Shannon Heerey (Headfort) 2 and 1
Mary Doyle (The Heath) bt Rachel McDonnell (Elm Park) 6 and 4.

Jessica Carty (Holywood) bt Jessica Ross (Donaghadee) 4 and 2  
Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) bt Lisa O'Shea (Shannon) 7 and 5



Quarter Finals
Ward (Lurgan) bt O'Driscol 1hole.
Mehaffey bt Diez 2 holes
Doyle bt Craig 1 hole
Carty bt Ryan 2 and 1

Plate Match Play (Pat Fletcher Trophy)

FIRST ROUND
Ashley Constantine (The Island)  bt Shannen Brown (The Heath) 2 holes. 
Chloe Weir (Shandon Park) bt Laura Fekkes (Larne) 1 hole.
Ciara Magill (East Clare) bt Rachel Taylor (Laytown and Bettystown) 3 and 2  
Rebecca O'Regan (Newlands) bt Jenny Sykes (Dun Laoghaire) 5 and 4 
Sarah Boden (Kilkeel) bt April Timothy (Roscommon) 7 and 5.
Tara Whelan (East Clare) bt Blaithine O'Brien (Roscommon) 5 and 3.
Jessica Boal (Larne) bt Darcey Carr (Milltown) 2 and 1.
Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel) bt Michelle Tierney (Waterford Castle) 2 and 1

QUARTER-FINALS
Weir bt Constantine 1 hole 
O'Regan bt Magill 2 and 1
Boden bt Whelan 4 and 
McCarthy bt Boal 3 and 1.

Sandra Barnett

Irish Ladies Golf Union