Martin and Abom close in on top spot

Aideen Walsh’s lead at the top of the Women’s Bridgestone Order of Merit has narrowed following a second win of the season for Mairead Martin (Kanturk) and a runner-up finish for Anna Abom (Edmondstown) seeing the gap close on the Lahinch golfer.

Walsh went into the weekend of the Cork Women’s Scratch Cup with a healthy 144-point lead but that has now been reduced to just 19 after the weekend’s action.

Martin continued her fine start to the season adding to her win at the Woodbrook Women’s Scratch Cup with a four-shot victory, to take home the Cork Scratch Cup. The Irish international began her day with a -4 round of 70 followed by a 71 in the afternoon to take the title. The win pushes Martin up to third place on the Bridgestone Order of Merit, 104 points behind Walsh while a second-place finish for Abom sees her reduce the gap.

Annabel Wilson (Castlerock) is another of the big movers on the Bridgestone Order of Merit. Her fourth-place finish in Cork was enough to see her move to fifth.

Following a busy few weeks on the women’s schedule there is time to reset now and prepare for their next event, the Ulster Women’s Amateur Stroke Play Open Championship in Clandeboye on 27 May.

The wait for the men to get back out on the course is over as they head to Cork Golf Club for the Munster Men’s Stroke Play Championship on Saturday 4 May. 75 players will tee it up looking to catch Keith Egan (Carton House) at the top.