Luna wins at Portmarnock Links
Italy’s Diana Luna cruised to her first win for five years in the fog - delayed AIB Ladies Irish Open at Portmarnock Links.
But it could be the last time the event is held at the north Dublin venue with organisers seriously considering a move to Solheim Cup venue Killeen Castle next year.
Promoter Roddy Carr said: "It’s 70 - 30 that we will go to Killeen Castle next year. We had 10,000 spectators last year and probably more than 15,000 this week so we have to decide if we will get more people to go to the Solheim Cup by keeping the tournament here or moving.
“We could attract some of the American players if we play at the Solheim Cup venue and that’s the decision that faces us.”
Luna, 26, overcame a three - hour fog delay when she closed with a bogey free 68 to finish four clear of France's Gwladys Nocera, England’s Florentyna Parker and Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson on 11 under par and pocket a cheque for €75,000.
Luna made just two bogeys in 54 holes as she closed with the only bogey free round of the tournament.
But it was a disappointing week for the Irish in action with Martina Gillen the best of the bunch on three - over after a closing 74.
Struggling with her iron play, the Dubliner had four birdies, three bogeys and a triple bogey seven on her card and confessed that she will have to tidy up her game to compete on tour.
She said: "From tee to green it’s fine. It’s just getting those simple birdie putts; you can’t just let them dribble by. You need to take chances when you have them. Your wicked shots can’t be causing you to have
triple bogeys. My bad shots have to improve."
Gillen was 47th at Portmarnock Links last year and wouldn't be protesting too much about a change of venue.
She said: “It’s been run really well and it’s a great tournament, one of the best we play. But this course doesn’t suit my game so I wouldn’t mind seeing it moved to be brutally honest.”
Teenage twins Lisa and Leona Maguire, 14, missed the cut but tour rookie Tara Delaney tied for 36th on five over after a 75.
Rebecca Coakley (74) finished on seven over with Hazel Kavanagh (75) eight over bit Royal County Down amateur Danielle McVeigh crashed from 19th overnight to 61st after a closing 81 left her on nine over.
205 - Diana Luna (ITA) 68 69 68
209 - Gwladys Nocera (FRA) 68 72 69, Florentyna Parker (ENG) 70 69 70, Sophie Gustafson (SWE) 71 67 71
210 - Krystle Caithness (SCO) 71 69 70
211 - Melissa Reid (ENG) 68 70 73
212 - Sophie Giquel (FRA) 70 74 68
213 - Lee - Anne Pace (SA) 71 71 71, Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) 71 70 72
214 - Sophie Walker (ENG) 74 72 68, Frances Bondad (AUS) 74 70 70, Jodi Ewart (Am) (ENG) 74 69 71, Becky Brewerton (WAL) 68 72 74, Julie Greciet (FRA) 67 72 75
215 - Tania Elosegui (ESP) 75 70 70, Lydia Hall (WAL) 69 74 72, Emma Zackrisson (SWE) 70 72 73
216 - Johanna Westerberg (SWE) 72 73 71, Jade Schaeffer (FRA) 74 70 72, Beatriz Recari (ESP) 72 71 73
217 - Laura Cabanillas (ESP) 71 75 71, Carmen Alonso (ESP) 72 71 74, Christel Boeljon (NL) 71 72 74
218 - Ursula Wikstrom (FIN) 75 73 70, Marta Prieto (ESP) 74 71 73
219 - Lisa Holm Sorensen (DEN) 73 75 71, Rebecca Hudson (ENG) 73 74 72, Vikki Laing (SCO) 68 77 74, Martina Gillen (IRE) 69 76 74, Lynnette Brooky (NZ) 73 72 74, Maria Hjorth (SWE) 67 78 74, Anna Tybring (SWE) 72 72 75, Martina Eberl (GER) 68 75 76
220 - Laura Terebey (USA) 76 74 70, Lynn Kenny (SCO) 75 72 73
221 - Riikka Hakkarainen (FIN) 75 74 72, Rhian Wyn Thomas (Am) (WAL) 74 75 72, Samantha Head (ENG) 70 78 73, Caroline Afonso (FRA) 76 72 73, Anne - Lise Caudal (FRA) 72 76 73, Nikki Garrett (AUS) 74 73 74, Tara Delaney (IRE) 70 76 75, Lotta Wahlin (SWE) 73 73 75, Dana Lacey (AUS) 72 73 76, Joanne Mills (AUS) 74 70 77, Paula Marti (ESP) 70 71 80
222 - Iben Tinning (DEN) 73 76 73, Margherita Rigon (ITA) 74 75 73, Nicole Gergely (AUT) 71 76 75, Federica Piovano (ITA) 75 72 75, Nina Reis (SWE) 70 76 76
223 - Linda Wessberg (SWE) 73 77 73, Joanne Morley (ENG) 75 75 73, Rachel Jennings (Am) (ENG) 70 79 74, Rebecca Coakley (IRE) 75 74 74, Felicity Johnson (ENG) 75 73 75, Kiran Matharu (ENG) 70 76 77, Lisa Hall (ENG) 73 72 78
224 - Stacy Lee Bregman (SA) 75 74 75, Hazel Kavanagh (IRE) 75 74 75
225 - Breanne Alicia Loucks (WAL) 74 75 76, Yuki Sakurai (JPN) 76 72 77, Danielle McVeigh (Am) (IRE) 74 70 81
226 - Morgana Robbertze (SA) 77 73 76
227 - Georgina Simpson (ENG) 72 78 77, Henrietta Zuel (ENG) 76 74 77, Veronica Zorzi (ITA) 74 76 77, Lisa Jean (AUS) 70 77 80
228 - Camille Fallay (FRA) 73 77 78, Denise - Charlotte Becker (GER) 75 70 83
229 - Amanda Moltke - Leth (DEN) 74 75 80