Sun and blue skies graced Galway Bay for the opening 36 hole qualifying day of the Irish Girls Close Championship. 

The success of Royal County Down Ladies' Olivia Mehaffey in reaching the morning semi-finals should ensure a full turn out from her "ain folk" as she bids to follow in the footsteps of the 2012 champion from Jordanstown, Northern Ireland, Stephanie Meadow, writes the LGU.