Headfort golfers set for Championship action at Arklow

Headfort golfers Maria O'Reilly and Pauline Walsh will fly the Meath flag at Arklow next week for the Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay Championship on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Walsh will be in action in the first round next Wednesday teeing off at 9.40am with Catherine Reilly (The Heath) and Cornelia Fischer (GERMANY) while O'Reilly has a 9.10am start with Emer Kirwan (Killiney) and Diane Dolan (USA)

Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast) will arrive at Arklow Golf Club in defence of her title.

Henderson captured the title last year at Rosslare where she finished two shots clear of Mary Dowling (Mallow).

The 2014 Senior’s Open Strokeplay champion Minna Kaarnalahti (Finland) and 2015/2016 Irish Senior Close champion, Gertie McMullen will be first to take to the course at Arklow Golf Club.

McMullen and Kaarnalahti are two favourites to capture the title but hot on their heels will be Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna), Mary Dowling (Mallow), Pat Doran (Donabate), Mary MacLaren (Royal Portrush) and Sheena McElroy (Grange).

McMullen, Corcoran and McElroy are also all members of the Irish team who this week are competing at the Senior European Team Championships in Poland.

There are a host of Nations represented in the popular Irish Seniors' event including Canada, England, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, USA, Scotland and South Africa.

Two 18-hole strokeplay rounds on Wednesday and Thursday will see the field cut to the top 40 for the final round on Friday.

With over half of the field hailing from Ireland, they will be keen to impress the Irish Selectors ahead of the announcement of the National team to play the Senior Home International at Alyth, Scotland.

With complimentary entry and car parking for spectators, visitors to Arklow are most welcome.

Tee Times – Wednesday 7 September
08:30 Minna Kaarnalahti (FIN), Gertie McMullen (The Island)
08:40 Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna), Becky Neal (USA)
08:50 Mary Dowling (Mallow), Pat Doran (Donabate), Alison Murdoch (CAN)
09:00 Mary MacLaren (Royal Portrush), Sheena McElroy (Grange), Leslie Henry (USA)

09:10

Emer Kirwan (Killiney), Maria O'Reilly (Headfort), Diane Dolan (USA)

09:20 Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast), Maragret McAuliffe (Ballybunion), Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire)
09:30 Ada Vrolijk (NED), Anne Ferguson (Royal County Down Ladies), Sonja Bland (RSA)

09:40

Catherine Reilly (The Heath), Pauline Walsh (Headfort), Cornelia Fischer (GER)
09:50 Clodagh Hopkins (Woodbrook), Ruth Maguire (Corrstown), Pamela Williamson (SCO)
10:00 Siobhan O'Herlihy (Muskerry), Vivienne Houston (City of Derry), Marie Sudway (Old Conna)
10:10 Diane Williams (CAN), Valerie Shannon (Lahinch), Irene Brien (ENG)
10:30 Maragret Campion (Killarney), Valerie Hassett (Ennis), Wanda Mochtar (NED)
10:40 Susan Gilmore (Ballybunion), Mairead Cronin (Stackstown), Aingeal DeBurca (ENG)
10:50 Paula Murray (Naas), Mai Tan (Dun Laoghaire), Melissa Gotfredson (USA)
11:00 Vonny Kelly (Powerscourt), Honoria Fogarty (Castlecomer), Iet Hagels (NED)
11:10 Rose Merriman (Clane), Michelle Dempsey (Charlesland), Judy Collins (CAN)
11:20 Margaret Worrall (Charlesland), Pauline Darcy (Arklow), Manja Reef (NED)
11:30 Marion Kennedy-Hogan (Ballybunion), Siobhan McGrath (Athlone), Ellen Ivory (Arklow)
11:40 Elizabeth Neville (Bearna), Marijn Ferguson (NED), Patricia Nolan (Arklow)
11:50 Ruth Farrell (Woodbrook), Eileen Kenny Ryan (Ballybunion), Linda Ward (Royal Co. Down Ladies)
12:00 Mary O'Donoghue (Ballybunion), Sheila Crosbie (Rosslare), Anne Marie Carroll (Ballybunion)
12:10 Marita Byrne (Bunclody), Margaret Furlong (Castlecomer), Josephine Moran (Castletroy)

Tee Times – Thursday 8 September
08:30 Wanda Mochtar (NED), Mairead Cronin (Stackstown)
08:40 Susan Gilmore (Ballybunion), Mai Tan (Dun Laoghaire)
08:50 Aingeal DeBurca (ENG), Paula Murray (Naas), Honoria Fogarty (Castlecomer)
09:00 Melissa Gotfredson (USA), Vonny Kelly (Powerscourt), Michelle Dempsey (Charlesland)
09:10 Iet Hagels (NED), Rose Merriman (Clane), Pauline Darcy (Arklow)
09:20 Judy Collins (CAN), Siobhan McGrath (Athlone), Manja Reef (NED)
09:30 Margaret Worrall (Charlesland), Marion Kennedy-Hogan (Ballybunion), Elizabeth Neville (Bearna)
09:40 Marijn Ferguson (NED), Ellen Ivory (Arklow), Eileen Kenny Ryan (Ballybunion)
09:50 Patricia Nolan (Arklow), Ruth Farrell (Woodbrook), Mary O'Donoghue (Ballybunion)
10:00 Linda Ward (Royal Co. Down Ladies), Marita Byrne (Bunclody), Anne Marie Carroll (Ballybunion)
10:10 Margaret Furlong (Castlecomer), Josephine Moran (Castletroy), Sheila Crosbie (Rosslare)
10:30 Minna Kaarnalahti (FIN), Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna), Becky Neal (USA)
10:40 Gertie McMullen (The Island), Mary Dowling (Mallow), Pat Doran (Donabate)
10:50 Maria O'Reilly (Headfort), Alison Murdoch (CAN), Sheena McElroy (Grange)
11:00 Mary MacLaren (Royal Portrush), Leslie Henry (USA), Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire)
11:10 Emer Kirwan (Killiney), Diane Dolan (USA), Maragret McAuliffe (Ballybunion)
11:20 Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast), Catherine Reilly (The Heath), Sonja Bland (RSA)
11:30 Ada Vrolijk (NED), Anne Ferguson (Royal County Down Ladies), Pauline Walsh (Headfort)
11:40 Vivienne Houston (City of Derry), Cornelia Fischer (GER), Ruth Maguire (Corrstown)
11:50 Clodagh Hopkins (Woodbrook), Pamela Williamson (SCO), Irene Brien (ENG)
12:00 Siobhan O'Herlihy (Muskerry), Marie Sudway (Old Conna), Valerie Shannon (Lahinch)
12:10 Diane Williams (CAN), Maragret Campion (Killarney), Valerie Hassett (Ennis)