IRISH GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP AT WATERFORD NEXT WEEK

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION 

A new Irish girls champion is destined to be crowned next week when the Irish Girls' Close Championship takes place at Waterford Golf Club next week (July 18-20).

The title is sure to be fiercely contested as the field boasts four of the six Irish internationals who are competing this week at the European girls’ team championship in Germany, namely Jessica Carty (Holywood), Olivia Mehaffey (Royal County Down Ladies) Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) and Jean O’Driscoll (Muskerry). 

Jessica Ross (Clandeboye), last year's runner-up, will be hoping to go one better this year and is showing great form of late, having won the East Leinster girls' championship at Powerscourt where she beat Olivia Mehaffey in the final. Jessica also finished runner-up to Ariana Coyle Diez (Elm Park) in the Ulster girls championship at Moyola Park. 

An additional incentive for the competing field will be the announcement on Friday, July 20 of the eight-player Ireland team for the girls' home Internationals at Radyr Golf Club, Wales, from August 7-9.

This team will be captained and managed for a second year by Niamh Kitching (Limerick) and Paula Reynolds (Seapoint) respectively.

Founded in 1912, Waterford Golf Club celebrates its centenary this year and the parkland course measuring 5,745 yards in unseasonally heavy conditions will pose a stern challenge for the field who play 36 holes strokeplay on Wednesday with the top 16 players qualifying for championship flight, while the next 16 will contest the plate. 

TIMESHEET WEDNESDAY 18th JULY

Rd 1       Rd 2

1^st            11^th          PLAYER (Club)                                                                                                                          

08:00 and 13:00 Hilary O'Driscoll (Muskerry), Rachel Thompson (Cork).

08:10 and 13:10 Chloe Ryan (Castletroy), Jessica Carty (Holywood), Jean O'Driscoll (Muskerry)     

08:20 and 13:20 Jessica Ross (Donaghadee), Shannon Heerey (Headfort), Jessica Boal (Larne)      

08:30 and 13:30 Sarah Boden (Kilkeel), Mary Doyle (The Heath), Hannah Henderson (Ballyclare)  

08:40 and 13:40 Darcey Carr (Milltown), Collette McNicholl (Royal Portrush), Jenny Sykes (DunLaoghaire)

08:50 and 13:50 Rebecca O'Regan (Newlands), Tara Whelan (East Clare), Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel)

09:00 and 14:00 Aoife Barry (Muskerry), Anne Marie Byrne (Castletroy) Lisa O'Shea (Shannon)   

09:10 and 14:10 Aileen Harnett (Milltown), Katie Allen (Lurgan), Paula Walsh (Doneraile)                

09:20 and 14:20 Maeve Kelly (Castle Dargan), Clodagh Jones (Roscrea), Laura Ryan (Bray)               

09:30 and 14:30 Miren Maguire (Foxrock), Caoimhe Russell (Co Louth), Judy Dick (Gowran Park).

09:40 and14:40 Julie Ann Malone (Rosslare), Eibhlin McCarthy (Killorglin),

Eleanor Metcalfe (Laytown and Bettystown).

09:50 and 14:50 Roisin Timothy (Roscommon), Caroline Hewitt (Arklow), Ruth Keating (Castlewarden)

10:00 and 15:00 Laura Winston (Clonmel), Grace Caine (Co Louth), Valerie Clancy (Mitchelstown)                                    

Rd 1       Rd 2          PLAYER (Club)

11^th        1^st                          

08:20 and 13:20 Olivia Mehaffey (Royal Co Down Ladies), Ariana Coyle Diez (Elm Park), Laura Fekkes (Larne).

08:30 and 13:30 Shannen Brown (The Heath), Niamh McSherry (Lurgan), Emma Murphy (Rosslare).

08:40 and 13:40 Niamh Ward (Lurgan), Chloe Weir (Shandon Park), Laura Doherty (Howth).

08:50 and 13:50 Ashley Constantine (The Island), Victoria Craig (Clandeboye), Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe)

09:00 and 14:00 Ciara Magill (East Clare), Meadhbh Doyle (Portarlington),  

Blaithine O'Brien (Roscommon)

09:10 and 14:10 Rachel McDonnell (Elm Park), Michelle Tierney (Waterford Castle), Rachel Taylor (Laytown and Bettystown)

09:20 and 14:20 April Timothy (Roscommon), Katie Aherne (Waterford Castle), Eimear Delaney (Birr)

09:30 and 14:30 Caitriona Griffin (Killarney), Jill Jennings (Carlow),

09:40 and 14:40 Lauren O'Brien (Rosslare), Annabel Wilson (Lurgan), Ciara Casey (Hermitage)

09:50 and 14:50 Sara Browne (Kilkenny), Orla Quinn (Roscommon), Lynn McElroy (Faithlegg)