Boucher and Lanigan lead Irish challenges in Spanish tests
Kate Lanigan. Picture: Pat Cashman
Carton House’s Marc Boucher and Hermitge’s Kate Lanigan lead the respective Irish challenges after the opening strokeplay qualifying rounds for the Copa del Rey and the Copa de la Reina in Spain.
Boucher opened with a two-over 73 at the Lakes Course at Infinitum near Tarragona — one of the courses used for the Final Stage of the DP World Tour Qualifying School — to share 12th place in the race to make the top 64 who qualify for the matchplay stage.
He’s six strokes behind England’s Arron Edwards-Hill, who shot a four-under 67 to lead by three strokes from the Netherlands’ Thijmen Batens and Wales’ James Ashfield.
Roganstown’s Sean Keeling was tied 34th after a four-over 75 with Galway’s Liam Nolan and Royal Dublin’s Richard Knightly were 58th after six-over 77s.
Naas’ Robert Brazill a shot further back in 68h after a 78.
In the women’s event at La Reserva de Sotogrande in Cadiz, Lanigan made four birdies in a one-under 71 to share fourth place, just two strokes behind Belgium’s Savannah de Bock.
Knock’s Katie Poots and Marina Joyce Moreno were 46th after six-over 78s with Roscommon’s Olivia Costello 54th after a 79 and Lahinch’s Aideen Walsh 76th after an 82.
