Lily-May Humphreys remains best placed to capture the Irish Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship tomorrow at Co. Louth following another round under par on the Baltray links. Although not quite as impressive as her opening 67, a two-under par round of 72 today in tougher conditions is nothing to be sniffed at.
“It was tougher today, there were no holes down or into the wind, it was all sideways which is harder really – especially allowing for the wind off the tee as you really don’t want to end up any of the fairway bunkers.”
“I didn’t putt as well today but I hit more of the par five’s in two so it was just like easy 2-putts and then I made quite a few bogeys – I think I made like 5, so where I missed a couple of greens I wasn’t really holing out the best compared to yesterday.”
Humphreys will take a three shot lead into the final round however there is a strong list of players lining up behind her including Scotland’s Hazel MacGarvie who posted two rounds of 71.
“I shot the same score as yesterday but there was actually a big difference in the two rounds – yesterday I wasn’t striking the ball as well but I still managed to get up and down quite a lot, especially on the back 9. Today I actually struck the ball a lot better and hit more greens and just made a lot of pars and birdies – it was pretty solid.”
Two shots further back sits Romy Meekers (Ned) who is playing her third consecutive Irish Women’s Open Stroke Play at Co. Louth.
“I started with a bogey as I couldn’t reach the green as it was straight into the wind but then I chipped in for eagle on two which was really nice! I was on the third green in two and 2-putted and hit it close on six so it was just some nice iron shots that helped me. The wind was turning a lot and it’s not like you can predict the wind from the previous hole as it could have changed direction.”
Co. Louth is proving a winner for the players who are enjoying the fair test the course is providing.
“It’s your typical links course, it’s quite like Western Gailes and it actually reminds me a lot of Ballybunion where we played Home Internationals last year when Scotland won. I really like it, the greens are in such good condition and it’s set up well.”
While Humphreys, MacGarvie and Meekers will make up the final group at 10.50am tomorrow, Deirdre Smith, a member of Co. Louth sits best of the Irish on one under par. Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe), who was four under for her opening nine holes today, slipped back to finish one-over for the tournament while Paula Grant (Lisburn) added a disappointing 77 to her opening 73.
Full Scores Below
139 L Humphreys (England), 67, 72
142 H MacGarvie (Scotland), 71, 71
144 R Meekers (Netherlands), 72, 72
146 C Goadby (Scotland), 71, 75
147 D Smith (Co. Louth), 75, 72; E Brennan (England), 74, 73; E Gower (England), 72, 75; E Briggs (Scotland), 71, 76
148 S McWilliam (Scotland), 74, 74; N Armbruester (Switzerland), 74, 74
149 P Brown (England), 78, 71; C McGinty (England), 76, 73; S Burke (Ballinrobe), 75, 74
150 P Grant (Lisburn), 73, 77
151 A Foster (Elm Park), 78, 73
152 N Slater (England), 78, 74; J Ryan (Wales), 77, 75; C Gainer (England), 77, 75; E Lewis (England), 76, 76; E Danielsson (Finland), 75, 77; A Muirhead (Scotland), 74, 78
153 A Donegan (Lahinch), 79, 74; J Goh (Singapore), 74, 79
154 K O’Connor (Wales), 77, 77; L Mernagh (Elm Park), 76, 78; S Byrne (Douglas), 75, 79
155 L Simpson (Massereene), 81, 74; R Thompson (Cork), 80, 75; C Noja (Germany), 79, 76; L McClymont (Scotland), 77, 78
156 J O’Driscoll (Muskerry), 77, 79; H Barker (England), 77, 79; E Murray (Co. Louth), 77, 79; C Coughlan (Douglas), 74, 82
157 L Bramwell (Wales), 77, 80
159 L Jones (Wales), 84, 75; M Fraser (Scotland), 80, 79; B Rook (England), 78, 81; H Hall (Enniscrone), 78, 81
160 E Corcoran (Grange), 79, 81; O Purfield-Goulding (Co. Louth), 77, 83; C Casey (Hermitage), 77, 83
161 A Dawson (Tramore), 81, 80; L Temple Lang (Elm Park), 74, 87
162 C Shippam (Ballykisteen), 81, 81; I Simpson (England), 80, 82
163 G Carr (Ireland), 83, 80; N Joyce Moreno (Royal Portrush), 83, 80; M Vater (England), 81, 82
164 J Browne (Kilkenny), 82, 82; G Shears (Australia), 81, 83
MC M Doyle (The Heath), 83, 82; L Murray (Delgany), 82, 84; J Allen (Royal Portrush), 80, 86; E Thorne (Elm Park), 86, 83; A Greham (Ballina), 78, 91; E Fenlon (Grange), 85, 85; E Fleming (Elm Park), 84, 86; B O’Keeffe (England), 88, 83; A Sawyer (England), 89, 83; X Rama (Carton House), 89, 83; L Kelly (Ballykisteen), 87, 86; A Thompson (Cork), 87, 86; C Hopkins (Woodbrook), 87, 88; K Poots (Knock), 87, 89; C McGonagle (Portsalon), 87, 91
RTD T Gordon (Laytown & Bettystown)
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