FROM CAROL FELL
Gertie McMullen (The Island) leads the field after the first round of the Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay at Royal Belfast
In wet and blustery gales, McMullen braved the elements to be the only player to break 80 and leads Belfast-born Kate Evans (Frilford Heath) by one stroke. Irish Seniors International Sheena McElroy was next best on 82 followed by defending champion Minna Kaarnalahti (Finland).
Irish Seniors Close Champion Helen Jones (Royal Portrush), Donabate legend Mary McKenna, Paula Murray (Naas) and England’s Mary Maclaren are next best on 85.
Ireland B leads the Nations Cup by 3 strokes from Ireland A with Canada’s two teams nudging ahead of Scotland in fifth place.
The field will play a further 18 holes on Thursday before the top 40 players compete over the final 18 holes on Friday.

FIRST ROUND SCORES 
(PAR 74 SSS 73 CSS 76 RO)
79 Gertie McMullen (The Island)
80 Kate Evans (NIR)
82 Sheena McElroy (Grange)
83 Minna Kaarnalahti (FIN)
85 Mary McKenna (Donabate) Helen Jones (Royal Portrush) Paula Murray (Naas) Mary MacLaren (ENG)
86 Gemma Butler (Birr) Diane Williams (CAN)
87 Janet Wilson (Royal Belfast) Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast) Alison Murdoch (CAN) Violet McBride (Belvoir Park)
88 Valerie Shannon (Lahinch) Adrienne Crowley (Woodbrook) Pauline Walsh (Headfort) Marie Conlon (The Heath)
89 Valerie Hassett (Ennis) Helen Castonguay (CAN) Fionnuala McGrady (Dunmurry) Pauline Bailie (Belvoir Park) Catherine Reilly (The Heath)
90 Pamela Williamson (SCO) Angela Colm (CAN)
91 Lee Ann Igoe (USA) Alison Reifers (USA) Judy Collins (CAN)
92 Rosemary Hayes (Hermitage) Jennifer Mack (SCO) Mary Geaney (Killarney) Ann Monteith (Slieve Russell)
93 Roma English (Larne) Carmel Cahill (Hermitage) Pamela Morgan (Lahinch)
94 Patricia Boyd (Royal Belfast) Elaine Elborn (Bangor) Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) Mary Kavanagh (New Ross) Ann McAuley (Laytown and Bettystown) Helen Faulds (SCO)
95 Janice Paterson (SCO) Grainne Killen (Kilkeel)
96 Linda Ward (CAN) Marlene Summers (USA) Mai McCann (Narin & Portnoo) Kath Stewart Moore (Royal Portrush)
97 Barbara Black (Dunmurry)
98 Elisabeth Wendels (SWE) Nancy Sneed (USA) Heidi Simpson (Royal Portrush) Becky Uritus (USA)
100 Terry Wells (Royal Belfast)
102 Sonja Gottschalch (DEN) Judy Clarke (Royal Portrush)
103 Sheila Bodmer (SWI)
106 Breda Farrell (Curra West)

NATIONS CUP (2 from 3 scores to count)
164 IRELAND B (Mary MacLaren 85 Gertie McMullen 79 Pauline Walsh [88])
167 IRELAND A (Helen Jones 85 Sheena McElroy 82 Violet McBride [87])
173 CANADA A
180 CANADA B
182 SCOTLAND
187 USA A
189 USA B
200 SCANDINAVIA