Walsh tops AIG Women's Close qualifiers by two from Costello at wind-lashed Grange
Leading Qualifier Aideen Walsh. Photo by: Thos Caffrey - Golffile
Lahinch’s Aideen Walsh produced a brilliant short game display to top the qualifiers for the AIG Irish Women’s Amateur Close by two strokes in tough, windy conditions at Grange.
After retaining her Ulster Women’s Stroke Play title at Belvoir Park last month, Walsh impressively plotted her way around the Rathfarnham track, opening with a one-under 72 before adding a one-over 74 in the afternoon to top the 32 qualifiers on level par 146 in her first appearance in the Close.
“It’s hard to believe,” Walsh said after claiming the Leitrim Cup. “It’s my first time playing the Close, so to be Leading Qualifier is a great start. It’s a new competition starting tomorrow with Matchplay. It’ll be all about resetting tomorrow.
“The course is really tricky. It’s all about staying patient out there, especially on the greens. There is no flat putt out there either.
“All I’ve played is strokeplay since January, so I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. It’ll be brilliant to play Matchplay before the British Amateur next week too!”
She finished two strokes ahead of Roscommon sensation Olivia Costello (14) who followed a 77 with two-under 71, the low score of the day on the Sheahan Course.
Walsh’s opening 72 and Costello’s 71 were the only two sub-par scores on the day as the 72-hole field was buffeted by a westerly wind gusting to 30 mph.
Douglas’ Clodagh Coughlan, Tramore’s Anna Dawson and Croham Hurst’s Canice Screene tied for third on eight-over with 2018 champion Sara Byrne sixth on 10-over.
“It wasn’t easy out there,” Walsh said. “The course is in unbelievable condition but the greens are really tricky, especially with the wind.
“My short game was pretty good today and I made quite a few good par saves at the right time, which helped.
“There’s a long way to go but the important thing was to qualify.”
Costello, was second to Walsh in the Ulster Strokeplay and reached the last four of the Close at Ballybunion last year, was pleased with her day.
“I had a few things to work on throughout the day, and it was all about focusing on my own game,” the Roscommon talent said.
“I can only do what I can do tomorrow, and take it hole by hole. I learned a lot from last year’s run, and I know what to expect for the rest of the competition.”
Three Grange players made the top 32 with Emma Fenlon, veteran Sheena McElroy and Ella Wojnar all going through.
The next 16 on the leaderboard will contest the Ita Wallace Plate.
2022 AIG Irish Women’s Amateur Close, Grange (Sheahan Course, Par 73)
Qualifiers
146 A Walsh (Lahinch Golf Club), 72, 74
148 O Costello (Roscommon Golf Club), 77, 71
154 C Coughlan (Douglas Golf Club), 81, 73; A Dawson (Tramore Golf Club), 79, 75; C Screene (Croham Hurst Golf Club), 75, 79
156 S Byrne (Douglas Golf Club), 77, 79
157 R Gardner (Clandeboye Golf Club), 79, 78; A Abom (Edmondstown Golf Club), 76, 81
158 C Shippam (Ballykisteen Golf Club), 80, 78; A Donegan (Lahinch Golf Club), 79, 79
159 K Poots (Knock Golf Club), 83, 76; M O'Hara (Clandeboye Golf Club), 81, 78; B Coulter (Kirkistown Castle Golf Club), 79, 80
161 L Cullen (Grange Castle Golf Club), 83, 78
163 E Fenlon (Grange Golf Club), 85, 78; N Coffey (Woodbrook Golf Club), 84, 79
164 O McCrystal (Royal Portrush Golf Club), 84, 80; L Webb (Royal Portrush Golf Club), 81, 83
165 J Browne (Kilkenny Golf Club), 81, 84
166 N O'Grady (Black Bush Golf Club), 86, 80; K Fleming (Elm Park Golf & Sports Club Golf Club), 83, 83; M Sharkey (Monkstown Golf Club), 82, 84
167 G McMullen (The Island Golf Club), 86, 81; C O'Grady (Black Bush Golf Club), 85, 82
168 A Taylor (Malahide Golf Club), 88, 80; H Lee-McNamara (Foyle Golf Club), 79, 89
169 S Phillips (Woodbrook Golf Club), 82, 87
170 O Lucas (Lahinch Golf Club), 87, 83; S McElroy (Grange Golf Club), 84, 86; E Murray (Co. Louth Golf Club), 83, 87
171 A Ni Thuama (Douglas Golf Club), 91, 80; E Wojnar (Grange Golf Club), 87, 84;
Ita Wallace Plate Qualifiers
171 K Mulholland (Moyola Park Golf Club), 86, 85; O Hunt (Effingham Golf Club), 86, 85
172 V Clancy (Killarney Golf Club), 85, 87 NOT COMPETING; N Carroll (Royal Tara Golf Club), 85, 87
174 O Currie (Royal Portrush Golf Club), 84, 90; G McMeekin (Massereene Golf Club), 83, 91; M McLoughlin (Co. Sligo Golf Club), 83, 91
175 J Pang (Portarlington Golf Club), 90, 85; C Maxwell (Royal Curragh Golf Club), 90, 85
176 E Lonergan (Westport Golf Club), 90, 86; C Johnston (Grange Golf Club), 88, 88; J Maguire (Foxrock Golf Club), 87, 89; S Ni Cheilleachair (Tullamore Golf Club), 86, 90
177 S Sharp (Royal Tara Golf Club), 91, 86; L Dancis (Carton House Golf Club), 90, 87; T Laverty (Galgorm Castle Golf Club), 86, 91
178 A Nolan (Grange Golf Club), 90, 88;
Non-qualifiers
178 J Dunne (Elm Park Golf & Sports Club Golf Club), 90, 88; C Griffin (Killarney Golf Club), 87, 91; A Geoghegan (Athlone Golf Club), 87, 91
179 E O'Shaughnessy (Co. Louth Golf Club), 92, 87; S Park (Grange Golf Club), 89, 90
182 C Corcoran (Grange Golf Club), 91, 91; E Proctor (Royal Portrush Golf Club), 89, 93
183 M Harty (Galway Golf Club), 89, 94
184 S Bullock (Castletroy Golf Club), 88, 96
185 S Reynolds (Co. Sligo Golf Club), 95, 90; S Glennon (Grange Golf Club), 94, 91
190 E Knight (The Island Golf Club), 93, 97
193 C Waldron (Naas Golf Club), 94, 99
RTD 94 J O'Gara (Grange Golf Club)
RTD 89 E Park (Edmondstown Golf Club)