TITLE-HOLDER TRICIA IS BLOWN AWAY TO A 90
IN FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND OF "IRISH"

Defending champion Tricia McDonnell from the Ennis club found the going frustratingly tough at a windswept Lahinch in the first round of the Lancôme Irish women's (close) amateur championship today.
McDonnell, better known by her maiden name of Tricia Mangan, returned a dis-satisfying 90 as the Atlantic winds swept across the famously challenging links where the field battled bravely to keep the ball in play. Conditions on the undulating greens were particularly difficult with gusting winds making putting extremely arduous.
Sinead O’Sullivan (Galway), one of only two players to break 80, carded four birdies in a magnificent level par 74, covering the back nine holes in two under par.
Next best was Mary Dowling (New Ross) who birdied the seventh on her way to a 79.
Course record holder Marian Riordan (Tipperary), matched Tara Delaney (Carlow), Sinead Keane (The Curragh) and Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) with 80 while Mary McKenna (Donabate), who was one under par for the inward nine, and Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) were one shot further back on 81.
The in-form Maguire twins, Lisa and Leona struggled in the blustery conditions and carded 83 and 88 respectively.
Leitrim Cup qualifying concludes on Sunday with a second 18 holes after which the leading 32 players will go into the championship draw on Monday, concluding Wednesday afternoon. Players and tournament officials will be hoping for winds to abate overnight and more benign conditions to greet the players in the morning.
FIRST ROUND SCORES
(CSS 80)
74 Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway)
79 Mary Dowling (New Ross)
80 Marian Riordan (Tipperary) Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) Sinead Keane (The Curragh) Tara Delaney (Carlow)
81 Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) Mary McKenna (Donabate)
82 Holli Snelling (Killarney)
83 Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne) Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell)
84 Anne McCormack (Roscommon) Maria Dunne (Skerries)
85 Ciara Butler (Newlands) Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth) Karen Delaney (Carlow) Mary Sheehy (Tralee) Naoimh McMahon (Shannon) Pamela Morgan (Lahinch)
86 Emma Gilmore (Mountbellew) Gertie McMullen (The Island) Jean Farrell (Youghal) Valerie Hassett (Ennis) Vivienne Houston (City of Derry)
87 Jennifer Gannon (Co. Louth) Orla Barry (Galway)
88 Helen Jones (Strabane) Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) Margaret Hayes (Tralee) Susanne Phillips (Woodbrook)
89 Ann Marie Dalton (Coollattin) Catherine Tucker (Limerick) Hannah McInerney (Gort) Nora O'Connor (Mallow) Sandra Atkinson (Woodbrook) Sarah Crowe (Tipperary)
90 Karen O'Neill (Douglas) Maura Morrin (The Curragh) Tricia McDonnell (Ennis)
91 Ailish McCartan (Greenore) Vicki Power (Brampton Park)
92 Anna O'Brien (Athlone) Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) Fiona Carroll (Athenry) Hannah O'Brien (Lahinch) Judith McGann (Gort) Mary-T Real (Ballykisteen) Sheena O'Brien-Kenney (Grange)
93 Hannah O'Connor (Loughrea) Kate Gallagher (Claremorris)
94 Claire McGonagle (Whitekirk) Lynda Maher (Charleville)
95 Mary Geaney (Killarney) Yvonne Daly-Ryan (Tipperary)
96 Ann Geoghegan (Athlone) Sarah Carty (The Island)
97 Karen Twomey (Spanish Point) Kay Bermingham (Youghal) Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) Val Shannon (Douglas)
98 Carmel Kearney (Mallow) Shauna O'Brien (Clonmel) Zarah O'Reilly (Castle)
99 Theresa Delahunty (Rathowney)
100 Fiona Healy (Headfort)
103 Cathryn Mannion (Athlone) Charlotte Crowe (Tipperary) Majella Hallinan (Ballykisteen) Marie Carr (Athenry)
104 Maria Cahill (Abbeyleix)
105 Ruth Maguire (Corrstown)
107 Mai McCann (Narin & Portnoo)
114 Julie Barkman (Nenagh)