IRELAND IN COMMAND OF MARY MCKENNA TROPHY AT WEST KILBRIDE

The Ireland senior women's amateur golf team are strong favourites to retain the Mary McKenna Trophy at West Kilbride Golf Club after winning the first-day four-ball matches from the Scotland veterans' line-up by three points - 3 1/2 to 0 1/2. In increasingly difficult afternoon conditions, Lorna Bennett and Fiona de Vries averted a whitewash for the Scots by halving their match with Suzanne Corcoran and Mary Dowing. The Irish putting was better than the Scots. Winners for Ireland were the pairings of Sheena McElroy and Carol Wickham, Helen Jones and Pat Doran, and Gertie McMullen and Kate Evans. FOUR-BALL RESULTS Scotland names firstKathleen Sutherland (North) and Mary Smith (Highland) lost to Sheena McElroy (Grange) and Carol Wickham (Laytown and Bettystown) 5 and 4. May Hughes (West and Jane Finnie (West) lost to Helen Jones (Royal Portrush) and Pat Doran (Donabate) 2 and 1 Alex Glennie (West) and Alison Bartlett (Highland) lost to Gertie McMullen (The Island) and Kate Evans (Frilford Heath) 4 and 3 Lorna Bennett (Midlands) and Fiona De Vries (Midlands) halved with Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna) and Mary Dowling (Mallow).