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Thursday, July 02, 2009

Top seed and title-holder Sheena McElroy beaten

DAY OF UPSETS AT SENIOR IRISH WOMENS’

CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP AT ARDEE

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
On a day of upsets that saw the top four qualifiers exit in the first round, the semi-final line up ensures a new name will adorn the Irish senior women’s close championship trophy when play concludes at Ardee Golf Club tomorrow.
On another day of persistent drizzle, Jane Gardner (Malone) beat leading qualifier and defending champion Sheena McElroy (Grange) in the morning on the 15th green, but fell to championship surprise packet Patricia O’Reilly (Headfort) on the home green in the afternoon.
Phil O’Gorman (Laytown/Bettystown) struck the ball beautifully to beat second qualifier Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) earlier in the day but succumbed to senior international Pauline Walsh (Headfort) in the quarter-finals.
Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock) saw off Madeline Brennan (Carlow) in the morning and then ended Mary Gorry’s hopes with a 15th hole victory. Experienced campaigner Valerie Hassett (Ennis) had earlier fallen to Gorry in the last 16.
Whilst Dun Laoghaire’s Niamh Giblin recorded an impressive win over third qualifier Helen Jones (Strabane) in the morning, County Longford’s Olivia Conroy completes the semi-final line up after displaying battling qualities to defeat Catherine Reilly (The Heath) at the third extra hole in the morning and then see off Giblin on the penultimate green to close the afternoon’s play.
New favourite Henderson plays rookie O’Reilly while Conroy meets Walsh in tomorrow morning’s semi-finals with each harbouring high hopes of capturing the title for the very first time tomorrow afternoon.
Results:
FIRST ROUND
Jane Gardner (Malone) bt Sheena McElroy (Grange) 4 and 3.
Patricia O'Reilly (Headfort) bt Gill Rouiller (Mannan Castle) 2 and 1.
Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock) bt Madeline Brennan (Carlow) 4 and 2.
Mary Gorry (Baltinglass) bt Valerie Hassett (Ennis) at 19th.
Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) bt Helen Jones (Strabane) 2 holes.
Olivia Conroy (Co. Longford) bt Catherine Reilly (The Heath) at 21st.
Pauline Walsh (Headfort) bt Sally Casey (Seapoint) 2 and 1.
Phil O'Gorman (Laytown/Bettystown) bt Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) 2 and 1.

QUARTER-FINALS
O'Reilly bt Gardner 2 holes.
Henderson bt Gorry 2 and 1.
Conroy bt Giblin 2 and 1.
Walsh bt O'Gorman 3 and 2.

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