Claremorris' Niamh Kitching will defend the Ford Women’s Cork Scratch Cup at Little Island on Saturday, 4 April.

Kitching captured the title by one stroke from Co. Louth’s Deirdre Smith last April and faces stiff competition from a host of Ireland’s elite including local favourites Gillian O’Leary and Emma O’Driscoll while Danielle McVeigh (RCDL), who finished second at Woodenbridge last weekend, is sure to feature.

Other leading amateurs in the field include Sarah Cunningham from Ennis, Carlow’s Karen Delaney and Aedin Murphy, who will also use the event to prepare for the Munster Women’s Championship at Shannon the following week.

Past winners of this prestigious event include Mary McKenna, Claire Coughlan, Eileen Rose Power, Bridget Gleeson and Ann Heskin. 

Play commences with an 18 hole shot-gun start at 9.00am followed by the final round that afternoon at 2.15pm.