Carmel Cahill sets pace in Irish

senior women's championship

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Carmel Cahill (Hermitage) fired a four over par 77 in wet and blustery conditions to lead the field after the first of two qualifying rounds at the ILGU’s Senior Women’s Close Championship at Hollystown Golf Club today.

In the worst of the afternoon conditions, Cahill started brightly and a birdie on 9 helped repair the damage of a nasty double-bogey on eight to turn two over par. A further birdie on 14 saw her steady the ship to return in 38 and lead the field by one stroke.
Next best is the defending champion Mary Madden (Ballinasloe) who has no intentions of relinquishing her title easily. A birdie on eight saw her turn level par and lead the field after a further birdie on thirteen.

However, back to back double bogeys on fifteen and sixteen blemished an otherwise perfect start to her title defence.
One shot further back is Valerie Hassett (Ennis) who birdied nine, thirteen and fourteen but encountered difficulties with the fast greens in blustery conditions.
Elsewhere, seasoned Internationals Sheena O’Brien Kenney (Grange), Eileen MacMullen (Donegal), Mary McKenna (Donabate), pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency (all rights reserved), and Marilyn Henderson (West Rhine) are well placed to challenge the first-round leaders for the top spots in the qualifying on Wednesday evening.
Competitors will play a final 18 holes qualifying on Wednesday, after which the top 16 qualify for match-play on Thursday with the final scheduled for Friday afternoon.
SCOREBOARD

FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND

Hollystown Golf Club.
77 Carmel Cahill (Hermitage)
78 Mary Madden (Ballinasloe)
79 Valerie Hassett (Ennis)
81 Sheena O'Brien Kenney (Grange)
82 Eileen MacMullen (Donegal) Pauline Walsh (Headfort) Olivia Conroy (Co. Longford) Helen O'Donoghue (Clonmel)
83 Mary McKenna (Donabate) Rhona Brennan (Bandon) Mary Mather (Cill Dara)
84 Marilyn Henderson (West Rhine) Helen Jones (Strabane)
85 Patricia O'Reilly (Headfort) Kay McCartan (Greenore) Noreen Granard (Portarlington)
86 Val Shannon (Douglas) Mary Geaney (Killarney) Anna Moloney (Clonmel) Roma English (Larne) Catherine Bird (Nenagh)
87 Laura Tolan (Co. Meath) Mairead MacNamara (Woodbrook)
89 Kath Stewart-Moore (Royal Portrush) Catherine Carty (Tullamore) Pamela Morgan (Lahinch)
90 Madeline Brennan (Carlow) MAry McCabe (Headfort)
91 Anne Heffernan (Hollystown) Anna Somers (Cill Dara) Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) Mary McGoey (Greenore) Dinah Campion (The Heath)
92 Judy Clarke (Royal Portrush) Marie McIntyre (Occoneechee)
93 Trudy Brosnan (Kanturk) Mai McCann (Narin & Portnoo)
94 Sighle Henigan (Ballybunion)
95 Rita McNamara (The Heath) Nano Brennan (Elm Park)
97 Mary Kidney (Headfort)
100 Anne Stewart (Belvoir Park) Woody Collins (Hollystown)
103 Bridget O'Brien (Tipperary) Patsy Butler (Headfort)
104 Marie McGrattan (Ardminnan).

107 Audrey Burke (Hollystown)
110 Joan Buckley (Ballybunion)
112 Anne Crotty (Tipperary)