Ireland's day at LGU's

Peugeot Coronation

Foursomes at St Andrews

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Irish eyes were certainly smiling at St Andrews today!
Joan Nelson and Marie Cleary, pictured, from Corrstown Golf Club, Killsallaghan near Dublin Airport won the Ladies Golf Union's Peugeot Coronation foursomes championship grand final over the Eden course – and LGU chairman Brigid McCaw, also from Ireland, had a hole in one at the fifth hole (with a 26 degree Cobra hybrid club) in a non-counting round with LGU president Maureen Lockett at the end of the field.
Pictured above (left to right) at the prizegiving dinner are Marie (left), Catherine Brown of Peugeot (centre) and Joan (right).
Joan, who plays off 22, and 26-handicapper Marie, played extremely well in the Stableford foursomes competition in windy conditions. They were round in a net 66 off half their combined handicap to score 43pt (22-21), including net eagles at the third and the fifth and seven net birdies.
It was their first ever visit to St Andrews and they drove over Ireland via the Stranraer ferry link with their husbands. It's been a trip to Scotland they certainly won't forget it.
The bonus prize for Joan and Marie is a place in the pro-am of the 2010 Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale where they will be paired with one of the world's leading professionals.
This is the first year that the LGU has organised area finals in Ireland and thus we are delighted that the winners have come from this new element," said Susan Simpson, the LGU's Head of Golf Operations.
The winning pair finished well clear of the rest of the field with Lincolnshire's Margaret Hartley and Jane Evans, from the Elsham club, finishing second with 35pt (15-20).
Third place was decided on card countback after two pairs totalled 33pts. Anne Preston and Margery Greatbach from the Whickham club, Newcastle had a better inward points half (20 to 15) than Belfast pair Lynda Beggs and Maureen Lee from Belvoir Park.
The 15 pairs who contested the grand final came through an elimination contest which started with local competitions at 1400 golf clubs in Britain and Ireland . From club level, the winners advanced to 15 area finals and the area winners came to St Andrews to contest the grand final.
Top Scots were Fiona Anderson and Jade Anderson from the Montrose Mercantile club with 31pt off 21 of a handicap earning them ninth place.
Stableford Foursomes Points totals (half combined handicap shown in brackets)
43 Marie Cleary and Joan Nelson (Corrstown) (24).
35 Jane Evans and Margaret Harley (Elsham) (18).
33 Margery Greatbach and Anne Preston (Whickham) (13) (better inward half), Lynda Beggs and Maureen Lee ( Belvoir Park ) (18).
32 Sarah Calvert and Karen Jobling ( Richmond ) (19), Sarah Faithfull and Carol Wilson ( Teign Valley ) (23), Angela Airey and Vivienne Rees (Gower) (18), Lynne Maher and Linda Rimmer (Lee Park) (21).
31 Fiona Anderson and Jade Anderson (Montrose Mercantile) (21).
29 Christine Gerson and Jilly Scott (St George's Hill) (18).
28 Janette Baillie and Nancy MacFarlane (Tulliallan) (20).
26 Corinne Charnell and Rachael Walker (Dumfries and Co) (26).
20 Leanne Ball and Julia Reynolds (Aston Wood) (11).
19 Mollie Jones and Sue Lloyd (Elsenham) (34).
16 Barbara Simcock and Janet Wardle (Hill Barn) (16)