Knock’s Katie Poots and Anna Abom of Edmondstown carded four-under rounds of 69 to share first-round leader honours at the AIG Women’s Irish Close Championship at Ardee Golf Club.
Poots made five birdies and a bogey, while Abom went bogey-free, making four birdies, and they enjoy a one-stroke lead over Hannah Lee-McNamara of Royal Portrush, with Ballinrobe’s Shannon Burke in solo fourth at -2.
Four players – Zoe MacLean-Tattan of Romford, Moyola Park’s Kayleigh Mulhollland, Belvoir Park’s Holly Hamilton and Anna Dawson of Tramore – share fifth place on -1, with 17 players currently at +2 or better, and the leading 16 players after 36 holes advancing to knockout matchplay.
Poots and Abom are also in pole position to take the Women’s Over-18 title which will be decided after 36 holes, while Lee-McNamara holds a two-stroke advantage in the Girls’ U-18 category.
Beth Coulter is the only one of the previous six winners not to have turned pro, but as she is not in the field, so a new name is guaranteed to be engraved on the trophy on Friday.
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