Mehaffey chasing four in a row
Olivia Mehaffey
Olivia Mehaffey will look to make it four-from-four when competitors tee up at the hotly contested Irish Women’s Open Amateur Strokeplay at Dun Laoghaire this weekend,
Having already been crowned Irish Girls’ Open Strokeplay Champion at Roganstown in mid-April, Olivia will now look to capture the Home Union Hat-trick having already won the Scottish and Welsh Women’s Amateur titles within the past three weeks.
Her biggest challenge will be to overcome the host of English competitors who have travelled in the hopes of attracting attention from the GB&I selectors due to announce the Vagliano Trophy team early next week. Inci Mehmet, Sophie Keech, Alice Hewson, Bethan Popel and Sophie Lamb to name but a few top English amateurs are joined by Austrian International Isabella Holpfer in this year’s lineup.
Aside from Mehaffey, the Irish challenge looks likely to be led by Irish Champion Mary Doyle (The Heath) and the in-form Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) and Maria Dunne (Skerries) who too will hope to be in the final shake-up for selection on the GB&I team to take on Europe in the Vagliano Trophy at Malone next month. With the Tournament qualifying as a Women's World Amateur Golf Ranking (WWAGR) event, Ireland will also look to defend the Nations Cup after comfortably defeating England last year.
With one third of the strong quality field playing off scratch or lower, the Irish party will face stiff competition if they are to wrestle the trophy from overseas hands. Competitors will play two strokeplay rounds on Saturday with the top 40 making the cut for the final 18 holes on Sunday as the leaders tee off at the end of the field.
The top class course conditions and scenic views at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club are second to none. This was recognised in 2012 when it won the bid to host the 39th Curtis Cup matches between GB & I and the USA, taking place in 2016. The Golf Club was also recently awarded the Golfers Guide to Ireland ‘2015 Best Parkland Golf Course’. Dun Laoghaire hosts three magnificent courses, the Upper, Middle and Lower courses and the Irish Women’s Open Strokeplay this weekend will be played over both the Upper and Middle courses. With the front 9 over the Upper Course, players will enjoy expansive views of the Sugar Loaf and the Wicklow Mountains. They will then conclude the back 9 on the Middle Course where concentration will be based on club selection and accuracy amidst beautiful lakes, ponds and streams. For further information on the hosts of the 39th Curtis Cup matches, please visit Dun Laoghaire Golf Club.
With complimentary entry for spectators, visitors to Dun Laoghaire are most welcome.
For all Championship information, including live scoring please follow this link: Irish Women’s Open Strokeplay Championship. Follow the ILGU on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates on the Championship.
Irish Women's Open Amateur Strokeplay - Dun Laoghaire 23-24 MAY
1st 10th Tee
07:30 13:00 Eleanor Metcalfe (Laytown & Bettystown) Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden)
07:40 13:10 Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) Sara Byrne (Douglas)
07:50 13:20 Nicole McGavisk (Donabate) Grace McGrath (East Cork) Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden)
08:00 13:30 Mary Doyle (The Heath) Ellie Goodall (ENG) Sinead Sexton (Lahinch)
08:10 13:40 Mollie Lawrence (ENG) Mairead Martin (Killarney) Ciara Casey (Hermitage)
08:20 13:50 Samantha Fuller (ENG) Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) Charlotte Austwick (ENG)
08:30 14:00 Bethan Popel (ENG) Elizabeth Prior (ENG) Chloe Ryan (Castletroy)
08:40 14:10 Isabella Holpfer (AUT) Sophie Lamb (ENG) Danielle McVeigh (RCD Ladies)
08:50 14:20 Gemma Clews (ENG) Maria Dunne (Skerries) Cloe Frankish (ENG)
09:00 14:30 Sophie Keech (ENG) Olivia Mehaffey (RCD Ladies) Inci Mehmet (ENG)
09:10 14:40 Samantha Giles (ENG) Paula Grant (Lisburn) Alice Hewson (ENG)
09:20 14:50 Megan Jenkins (ENG) Julie McCarthy (Forrest Little) Niamh McSherry (Lurgan)
10th 1st Tee
07:30 13:00 Michelle Tierney (Waterford Castle) Emer Foley (Castlecomer)
07:40 13:10 Alice Hutchinson (St. Anne's) Lisa O' Shea (Shannon) Katie Rafferty (Tipperary)
07:50 13:20 Emma Gilmore (Mountbellew) Louise Hanratty (Mannan Castle) Jenny Hennessy (Lahinch)
08:00 13:30 Sophie Harrison (Killeen Castle) Clodagh Jones (Roscrea) Elisa Corcoran (Grange)
08:10 13:40 Cliodhna McCarthy (Dun Laoghaire) Katie Aherne (Waterford Castle) Roisin Brady (Co. Louth)
08:20 13:50 Karen O' Neill (Douglas) Victoria Craig (Royal Belfast) Aoife Lowry (Tipperary)
08:30 14:00 Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) Nicky King (Woodbrook)
08:40 14:10 Ariana Coyle Diez (Elm Park) Karen Delaney (Carlow) Jean O'Driscoll (Muskerry)
08:50 14:20 Valerie Clancy (Killarney) Nicola Coffey (Woodbrook) Laura Doherty (Howth)
09:00 14:30 Jessica Ross (Donaghadee) Chloe Weir (Shandon Park) Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion)
09:10 14:40 Rachel Thompson (Cork) Jenny Maguire (Foxrock) Fiona McCann (ENG)
09:20 14:50 Louise Coffey (Malone) Aedin Murphy (Carlow) Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint)