IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION NEWS RELEASE

IRISH SENIOR WOMEN’S OPEN STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

AT ROYAL BELFAST GOLF CLUB

September 12-14

 

KAARNALAHTI TO DEFEND LADIES SENIORS’ TITLE

 

Finland's Minna Kaarnalahti will defend her Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay title when competitors tee up at Royal Belfast on Wednesday 14 September.
In last year’s championship at Greenore, Kaarnalahti fired a final round 77 to defeat Ireland’s Pauline Walsh (Headfort), Helen Jones (Strabane) and Alison Bartlett (ENG) by one stroke after Walsh sensationally leap-frogged the field with a best-of-the-tournament 73.
The strongest challenge to Kaarnalahti’s title defence is likely to come from 2010 Champion and current Irish Seniors’ Close Champion Jones, Canadians Alison Murdoch, Diane Williams and Alison Reilfers and America’s Marlene Summers. Indeed Friday could very well herald an overseas Champion with almost one third of the field of 64 welcomed to Craigavad.

Fellow Irish Seniors’ Internationals Sheena McElroy (Grange), Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna) and Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) look next best after Jones to secure an Irish victory ahead of Friday’s announcement of the Irish team to play in the Seniors Home Internationals in Scotland in early October.

With Ireland defending the Nations Cup, this year’s tournament will be as competitive as ever with the majority of the field availing of additional practice for the British Seniors Open at Hunstanton in England the following week. Two 18 hole strokeplay rounds on Wednesday and Thursday will see the field cut to 40 for the final round on Friday.
TEE TIMES – WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY08:30 10:30 Kath Stewart-Moore (Royal Portrush) Linda Ward (CAN)
08.40 10.40 Mary Geaney (Killarney) Rosemary Hayes (Hermitage) Elisabeth Wendels (SWE)
08.50 10.50 Gemma Butler (Birr) Janice Paterson (SCO) Valerie Shannon (Lahinch)
09.00 11.00 Mary McKenna (Donabate) Nancy Sneed (USA) Janet Wilson (Royal Belfast)
09.10 11.10 Patricia Boyd (Royal Belfast) Carol Kinsella (Waterford Castle) Heidi Simpson (Royal Portrush)
09.20 11.20 Valerie Hassett (Ennis) Jennifer Mack (SCO) Adrienne Crowley (Woodbrook)
09.30 11.30 Helen Jones (Strabane) Minna Kaarnalahti (FIN) Marlene Summers (USA)
09.40 11.40 Roma English (Larne) Elaine Elborn (Bangor) Lee Ann Igoe (USA)
09.50 11.50 Clodagh Hopkins (Woodbrook) Sinead Heraty (Castle) Pamela Williamson (SCO)
10.00 12.00 Carmel Cahill (Hermitage) Angela Colm (CAN) Pamela Morgan (Lahinch)
10.10 12.10 Barbara Black (Dunmurry) Judy Clarke (Royal Portrush) Mai McCann (Narin & Portnoo)
10.30 08.30 Helen Castonguay (CAN) Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast) Fionnuala McGrady (Dunmurry)
10.40 08.40 Sheila Bodmer (SWI) Paula Murray (Naas) Helen O'Donoghue (Clonmel)
10.50 08.50 Mary Maclaren (ENG) Catherine Reilly (The Heath) Pauline Walsh (Headfort)
11.00 09.00 Breda Farrell (Curra West) Elizabeth Neville (Bearna) Terry Wells (Royal Belfast)
11.10 09.10 Kate Evans (Frilford Heath) Sheena McElroy (Grange) Diane Williams (CAN)
11.20 09.20 Marie Conlon (The Heath) Patricia Kelly (Limerick) Gráinne Killen (Kilkeel)
11.30 09.30 Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna) Alison Murdoch (CAN) Alison Reifers USA)
11.40 09.40 Judy Collins (CAN) Mary Kavanagh (New Ross) Ann McAuley (Laytown & Bettystown)
11.50 09.50 Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) Violet McBride (Belvoir Park)
12.00 10.00 Sonja Gottschalch (DEN) Pauline Bailie (Belvoir Park) Becky Uritus (USA)
12.10 10.10 Helen Faulds (SCO) Gertie McMullen (The Island) Ann Monteith (Slieve Russell)
Further details available from:
Denise McCarthy
Irish Ladies Golf Union
103 Q House, 76 Furze Road,  Clonskeagh Square, Clonskeagh Road, Dublin 14
Tel: 087-2890127
E-mail: denise@ilgu.ie