CLODAGH LEADS BY THREE IN IRISH SENIOR WOMEN'S QUALIFYING

NEWS RELEASE FROM IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION

Woodbrook’s Clodagh Hopkins led the field by a whopping three strokes after the first of two qualifying rounds at the Irish Senior Women’s Close Championship at Woodenbridge Golf Club in the Vale of Avoca today.
In wet and windy conditions, Clodagh birdied the seventh and eight to turn one over the card and a further birdie on the thirteenth saw her cover the back stretch in level par, to lead the field by three strokes.

Next best was Portumna’s Suzanne Corcoran on 76 who like Hopkins had a birdie to thank on the seventh to lie solely in second place. 

Early clubhouse leader Pauline Walsh (Headfort) is one shot further adrift following a 77. Sharing joint fourth are the threesome of Pat Doran (Donabate), Sheena McElroy (Grange) and Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) on 78. 

Tournament favourite Laura Webb (Cairndhu) is lurking menacingly on 79 alongside Mairead MacNamara (Woodbrook), Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) and Carol Wickham (Laytown & Bettystown).
Defending Champion Helen Jones (Royal Portrush) endured the worst of the wet conditions to sign for a disppointing 89.

Following tomorrow’s second qualifying round, the top 16 will challenge for the championship over four rounds of matchplay with the Champion being crowned on Friday afternoon. Players in positions seventeen through to thirty-two will challenge for the Plate.
IRISH SENIOR WOMEN'S CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP

 (Par 72, SSS 72, CSS 74)
73 Clodagh Hopkins (Woodbrook)
76 Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna)
77 Pauline Walsh (Headfort)
78 Pat Doran (Donabate) Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) Sheena McElroy (Grange)
79 Mairéad MacNamara (Woodbrook) Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) Laura Webb (Cairndhu) Carol Wickham (Laytown & Bettystown)
80 Mary Dowling (Mallow) Kate Evans (Frilford Heath) Mary MacLaren (Wellingborough) Gertie McMullen (The Island)
81 Penny Gleeson (Milltown) Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast) Fiona McComb (Ballycastle)
82 Connie Doyle (Enniscorthy)
83 Carmel Cahill (Hermitage) Anna Moloney (Clonmel) Catherine Reilly (The Heath)
84 Gemma Butler (Birr) Adrienne Crowley (Woodbrook) Lily Owens (Malahide)
85 Bernie Darcy (Woodenbridge) Ruth Maguire (Corrstown)
86 Mary Duane (Hermitage) Mary Powell (Nenagh)
87 Marie Conlon (The Heath) Toni McDonagh (Fortwilliam) Fionnuala McGrady (Dunmurry)
88 Stephanie McNiff (Tullamore) Valerie Shannon (Lahinch)
89 Sally Casey (Seapoint) Valerie Hassett (Ennis) Sinead Heraty (Castle) Helen Jones (Royal Portrush) Mary Kavanagh (New Ross)
90 Cáit Cooney (Tullamore) Helen Egan (Tullamore) Pamela Morgan (Lahinch) Breda Murphy (Woodenbridge)
91 Liz Bennett (New Ross) Catherine Carty (Tullamore) Mary Geaney (Killarney) Mary Kinsella (Tullamore) Helen O'Donoghue (Clonmel)
92 Síghle Henigan (Ballybunion) Carol Kinsella (Waterford Castle)
93 Anne Mernagh (Woodenbridge)
94 Madeleine Brennan (Carlow) Patricia Kelly (Limerick) Ann Monteith (Slieve Russell) Terry Sexton (Dun Laoghaire)
95 Rosemary Hayes (Hermitage)
96 Catherine Kavanagh (Mitchelstown) Rita McGoldrick (Enniscrone)
97 Bernie Cox (Carlow) Yvonne MacSweeney (Wexford)
98 Carmel Bolton (Portarlington)
99 Breda Farrell (Curra West)
100 Kathleen Moylan (Tullamore)