Thompson still cruising at Irish Girls' Close

Rachel Thompson (Cork)
Pat Cashman Photography

Irish Girls' Close Championship
Mallow Golf Club
19 - 22 July 20

20 July 17

QUALIFYING RESULTS

MATCHPLAY DRAW – Championship

MATCHPLAY DRAW – Plate

Leading qualifier Rachel Thompson safely negotiated her way into the last 16 at the Irish Girls' Close Championship with a 7&5 win over Belvoir Park's Olivia McClurg. She now faces another Ulster Girl in Emma Forbes (Royal Portush), who won by 2 holes against Nicole McGavisk (Donabate).

In the middle of the draw there were some close matchups, International Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) faced three birdies on the back 9 from her opponent Fiona Behan (Killeen) but her experience prevailed and she closed out the match on the 18th with a par. Behind, Horizon panellists Coulter and Byrne were drawn against each other in what promised to be a tough decider. The Kirkistown Castle youngster led from the beginning and while Junior Vagliano representative Byrne fought a couple of holes back, Beth comfortably won 5&4.

Munster duo Valerie Clancy (Killarney) and Mairead Martin (Kanturk) are also safely into the last 16 and will face Kate Dwyer (Rossmore) and Ada Bowler (Lucan) on Friday morning.

Those who were beaten in today's matches will continue into the Plate flight which concludes alongside the Championship matches on Saturday afternoon.

In the stableford consolation competition was won by Katie Poots (Knock) with 37 points, who wins the May Fitzgibbon Trophy.

Round 1 – Thursday 20 July
Rachel Thompson (Cork) beat Olivia McClurg (Belvoir Park) 7&5
Emma Forbes (Royal Portrush) beat Nicole McGavisk (Donabate) 2 holes
Georgia Carr (Milltown) beat Katie Keenan (Kilkenny) 2&1
Anna Foster (Elm Park) beat Niamh O'Dwyer (Lahinch) 4&3
Kate Lanigan (Hermitage) beat Emily Walsh (Limerick) 4&3
Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo) beat Chloe O'Connor (Roscommon) 3&2
Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) beat Fiona Behan (Killeen) 1 hole
Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle) beat Sara Byrne (Douglas) 5&4
Valerie Clancy (Killarney) beat Shannon Hegarty (Ennis) 3&1
Kate Dwyer (Rossmore) beat Leah Temple Lang (Elm Park) 5&4
Katie O'Hart (Arklow) lost to Canice Screen (Hermitage) 1 hole
Ellen O'Gorman (Milltown) beat Anna Dawson (Tramore) 1 hole
Mairead Martin (Kanturk) beat Kaelin O'Keeffe (Tralee) 6&5
Ada Bowler (Lucan) beat Jan Browne (Kilkenny) 2&1
Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) beat Tegan Gordon (Laytown & Bettystown) 8&7
Nicole Joyce Moreno (Spain) beat Anna McVicker (Belvoir Park) 3&2

Championship Last 16 – Friday 21 July
08:00 Rachel Thompson vs. Emma Forbes
08:10 Georgia Carr vs. Anna Foster
08:20 Kate Lanigan vs. Maeve Rooney
08:30 Lauren Walsh vs. Beth Coulter
08:40 Valerie Clancy vs. Kate Dwyer
08:50 Canice Screen vs. Ellen O'Gorman
9:00 Mairead Martin vs. Ada Bowler
09:10 Maeve Cummins vs. Nicole Joyce Moreno

Plate – Round 1 – Friday 21 July
09:20 Olivia McClurg vs. Nicole McGavisk
09:30 Katie Keenan vs. Niamh O'Dwyer
09:40 Emily Walsh vs. Chloe O'Connor
09:50 Fiona Behan vs. Sara Byrne
10:00 Katie O'Hart vs. Anna Dawson
10:10 Kaelin O'Keeffe vs. Jan Browne
10:20 Tegan Gordon vs. Anna McVicker