Irish women's close championship at Westport

TITLE-HOLDER KAREN
DELANEY, MAURA
MORRIN EARLY EXITS

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell), only 13, with three birdies over the first four holes paved her way to the last 16 with victory over Ann Geoghegan (Athlone) on the opening day of the match-play stages of the Lancome Irish women's close championship at Westport Golf Club.
Top qualifier Lisa followed up with birdies on the seventh and 10th and won the match on the 14th hole.
Current international Gillian O’Leary (Cork) had a tight start against past international Sinead Keane (The Curragh) but took the lead with birdies on the seventh and eighth and followed this up with another on 13 before winning the match with a birdie on the 16th.
Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) was thrilled with her result against fellow Connaught player Anne McCormack (Roscommon) and now looks forward to taking up the challenge against Mary Dowling (New Ross) who had stiff competition against Helen Jones (Strabane).
Mary said of the friendly encounter: “I missed a short putt on the 18th but made up for it with a birdie to win on the 19th”
Niamh Kitching played steady golf with great club support from Claremorris and comes up against Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) who has displayed fine consistency herself over the tournament to date.
Jenny Gannon (Co Louth) commented: “I had a few birdies and holed a few putts and that made all the difference." Jenny meets a fired up Tara Delaney (Carlow) who defeated local Sarah Gallagher (Claremorris) 9 and 8.
Lisa's twin sister Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell), playing in the bottom half of the draw as the No 3 seed, defeated defending champion Karen Delaney (Carlow), pictured above, 5 and 3. Lisa plays Leinster Under-18 inter-provincial player Carla Reynolds (Seapoint) who had a 2 and 1 win against Karen O’Neill from Douglas.
Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) had a fine 4 and 3 win against in-form Under-18 inter-pro player Emma O’Driscoll (Ballybunion).
Ann Marie Dalton (Coollattin), who chalked up a victory on the American college circuit recently, commented “I hit the ball well and the putts dropped.” She won her Westport match on the 11th hole against Muskerry’s Laura McCarthy. Ann Marie now plays Leinster inter-provincial and past girls international Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne) in the last 16.
The biggest upset of the day was the defeat of Maura Morrin, runner-up in the Leitrim Cup. She was favourite to win her match against Sarah Carty (The Island), but Sarah has proved herself to be a great match player and won with a birdie on the 20th hole.
Now Sarah plays Una Marsden (Tullamore) who had a great 5 and 4 win against another upcoming Under-18 player Sarah Crowe (Tipperary).

TUESDAY'S CHAMPIONSHIP TIES
SECOND ROUND
9:0 Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) v Gillian O’Leary (Cork)
9:09 Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) v Mary Dowling (New Ross)
9:18 Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) v Niamh Kitching (Claremorris)
9:27 Jennifer Gannon (Co. Louth) v Tara Delaney (Carlow)
9:36 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) v Carla Reynolds (Seapoint)
9:45 Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) v Ciara Butler (Newlands)
9:54 Ann Marie Dalton (Coollattin) v Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne)
10:03 Una Marsden (Tullamore) v Sarah Carty (The Island)
FIRST-ROUND RESULTS
Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) bt Ann Geoghegan (Athlone) 5&4
Gillian O'Leary (Cork) bt Sinead Keane (The Curragh) 3&2
Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) bt Anne McCormack (Roscommon) by 1 hole
Mary Dowling (New Ross) bt Helen Jones (Strabane) at 19th
Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) bt Caoimhe Quinn (Dungannon) 3&2
Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) bt Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth) 4&3
Jennifer Gannon (Co. Louth) bt Maria Dunne (Skerries)7&6
Tara Delaney (Carlow) bt Sarah Gallagher (Claremorris) 9&8
Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) bt Karen Delaney (Carlow) 5&3
Carla Reynolds (Seapoint) bt Karen O'Neill (Douglas) 1 hole
Darragh McGowan (B/Stranorlar) bt Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion) 4&3
Ciara Butler (Newlands) bt Sarah Faller (Galway)
Ann Marie Dalton (Coollattin) bt Laura McCarthy (Muskerry) 8&7
Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne) bt Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna) 3&1
Una Marsden (Tullamore) bt Sarah Crowe (Tipperary) 5&4
Sarah Carty (The Island) bt Maura Morrin (The Curragh) at 20th.
ITA WALLACE (PLATE)
SECOND ROUND
14:15 Doireann Carney (Galway) v Julie O'Gara (Roscommon)
14:24 Fiona Moclair (Ballinasloe) v Catherine Tucker (Limerick)
14:33 Hannah O'Brien (Lahinch) v Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint)
14:42 Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) v Trish Doyle (Kanturk)
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
Doireann Carney (Galway) beat Sue Phillips (Woodbrook) 3&2
Julie O'Gara (Roscommon) beat Orla Barry (Galway) at 20th
Fiona Moclair (Ballinasloe) beat Olivia Conroy (Co. Longford) 1 hole
Catherine Tucker (Limerick) beat Lynda Maher (Charleville) 5&4
Hannah O'Brien (Lahinch) beat Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) 4&3
Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) beat Shauna McVeigh (Royal Co. Down Ladies) 2 holes
Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) beat Linda Toomey (Limerick) 3&2
Trish Doyle (Kanturk) beat Fiona McComb (Ballycastle) 1 hole