Maguire twins will miss Lancome

Irish girls' close championship

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Laura McCarthy (Muskerry), a member of the Irish girls’ team of four for the European team championship, will be favourite to claim the Lancome Irish girls’ close championship trophy when the prestigious tournament is played at Castletroy Golf Club from July 15 to 17.
2008 Champion Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) is unavailable to defend the title which she won in Mullingar last year due to a hectic schedule of tournaments over the coming weeks. Included in this is representing Great Britain and Ireland in the upcoming Vagliano Trophy, to be played in Germany at the end of the month.
Also absent from the field of 72 competitors for the same reasons is the Irish women’s close and stroke-play champion Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell), while a third member of the Irish girls’ team for the European championships, Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush), is also unavailable to compete as she returns to the United States where she is now based, to attempt to qualify for the US open girls’ championship.
However, this year’s Lancome Irish girls close hampionship promises to be an exciting affair with those looking to capture the trophy for the first time including the in-form Emma O’Driscoll (Ballybunion), who has claimed both the Connacht women’s and girls’ championships in recent weeks.
Munster girls’ champion Patrice Delaney (Birr) and Ulster girls’ champion Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) will also be bidding for glory. Other hopefuls in the field include Sarah Louise Winter (Carnalea), Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) and Carla Reynolds (Seapoint).
With valuable Order of Merit points on offer, all competitors will be looking to impress the Irish selectors ahead of the announcement of the team of eight to represent Ireland at the girls’ home international matches (at a Lancashire venue), which will follow the completion of play on Friday afternoon.
The format of the championship consists of one 18-hole stroke-play qualifying round with the leading qualifier collecting the Muwick Cup and the best nett score being awarded the Dorothy Glendinning Trophy, while the lowest qualifier under 15 years of age collects the Violet Heslett Cup.
The leading 32 players go through to the match-play championship for the Blake Cup, with the Lancôme Irish girls champion emerging victorious on Friday afternoon. The 16 first round losers play knock-out matches for the Pat Fletcher Trophy.
Qualifying Round tee times
Wednesday 15 July
1st tee
07:50 Eadaoin Cronin (Bantry Bay), Ciara Magill (East Clare).
08:00 Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion), Patrice Delaney (Birr), Sarah Louise Winter (Carnalea).
08:10 Niamh O'Connor (Naas) Carla Reynolds (Seapoint) Megan Thompson (Ballyclare)
08:20 Amy Farrell (Moate) Julie O'Gara (Roscommon) Michelle McCarthy (Clonmel)
08:30 Paula Grant (Lisburn) Rebecca Mulholland (Kilkenny) Chloe Fitzpatrick (The Heath)08:40 Erin Connolly (Co. Armagh) Laura Boylan (Skerries) Amy Chambers (Dunfanaghy)
08:50 Edey Coyne (Youghal) Laura Fekkes (Larne) Emily McGuinness (Greenore)
09:00 Sinead Sexton (Lahinch) Siobhan Greene (Holywood) Aisling Hill (Roscommon)
09:10 Olivia Mehaffey (Tandragee) Amber Gleeson (Co. Sligo) Eimear McManus (Limerick)09:20 Jenny Hennessy (Ennis) Jenny Sykes (Dun Laoghaire) Rebecca Tully (Holywood)
09:30 Deirdre Lawlor (Tralee) Rebecca O'Neill (Larne) Anne-Marie Byrne (Castletroy)
09:40 Chloe Duggan (Lahinch) Lisa O'Shea (Shannon) Alison Coyle (Dun Laoghaire)
09:50 Eimear Delaney (Birr) Blaithin O'Brien (Roscommon) Jenny Maguire (Foxrock)
10th tee
07:50 Aoife Barry (Muskerry) Catherine Byrne (Castletroy).
08:00 Laura McCarthy (Muskerry) Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) Sarah Helly (Enniscrone)08:10 Sarah Murray (Co. Louth) Kelsey Coey (Clandeboye) Daryl Conroy (Castlebar).
08:20 Jessica Carty (Holywood) Hannah O'Brien (Lahinch) Anna Courtney (St. Annes).
08:30 Jessica Boal (Larne) Aoife McHale (Castlebar) Terri Byrne (Coollattin).
08:40 Julie Coyne (Youghal) Holly Robinson (Co. Sligo) Chloe Ryan (Castletroy).
08:50 Emma Murphy (Wexford) Amy Gaynor (Co. Sligo) Laura Grant (Lisburn).
09:00 Rachel Chambers (Dunfanaghy) Sarah Boden (Kilkeel) Megan O'Hara (Co. Sligo).
09:10 Avril Peevers (Tralee) Shauna Brady (Co. Sligo) Diane Hennessy (Ennis).
09:20 Sarah Fay (Westmanstown) Emma Dunne (Castlewarden) Kerrie Young (Rosslare).
09:30 Laura Doherty (Howth) Michelle Tierney (Waterford Castle) Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel).
09:40 Ellen Greene (Holywood), April Timothy (Roscommon), Sinead Henry-Bezy (Ashbourne)Gillian O'Leary