Paula Grant’s four-over-par round of 76 proved enough to send the Lisburn native into the matchplay stages of the weather-disrupted Spanish Ladies’ Amateur Championship.
Grant qualified as the leading Irish contender in 15th place after her round on Wednesday turned out to be her only one as high winds wreaked havoc at Barceló Montecastillo Golf in Jerez de la Frontera.
She’s been in fine form already this year and if her game continues on this upward trend then you’d have to think a Curtis Cup call could be on the horizon. Before all that though she’ll be thinking about Sweden’s Beatrice Wallin, her opponent this morning.
Grant’s not the only live Irish chance safely through to the last 32 today. Teen sensation, Annabel Wilson and Killarney’s Valley Clancy both snuck in the back door with a pair of 79s, taking spots 30 and 31 in the draw.
Sweden’s Frida Kinhult looks to be the one to beat again this year as her opening 71 led the field into the qualifiers by four strokes. If Grant progresses through her first round match then in all likelihood her reward will be a crack at the defending champion in the last 16 this afternoon.
Valerie Clancy takes on Lou Vrain from France this morning while Annabel Wilson will fancy her chances against Dane Sofie Kibsgaard.
Unfortunately there was no luck for the other Irish in Spain with Castlewarden’s Lauren Walsh (80) and Milltown’s Georgia Carr (88) missing out while Hermitage’s Ciara Casey was forced to retire early.
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