Winner Minna Kaarnalahti (Finland) after holing the final putt of the 2012 Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay Championship at Royal Belfast Golf Club. Picture by Pat CashmanFinland’s Minna Kaarnalahti successfully defended her Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay title when she carded a final round of 76 to win by five strokes at a windswept Royal Belfast.

Royal Portrush’s Helen Jones, the 2010 champion, slipped to fourth with an 85 while Grange’s Sheena McElroy leapfrogged the field to second place after a fine 80.

Local favourite Marlyn Henderson of Royal Belfast finished third after a closing 83.

Ireland A won the Nations Cup by 13 strokes from Canada A with Ireland B third, Scotland fourth and the USA fifth.

Marjorie McCorduck (President, Irish Ladies Golf Union) presenting the 2012 Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay Championship trophy to Minna Kaarnalahti (Finland) after her victory at Royal Belfast Golf Club 14/09/2012. Also in the picture is Janet Walmsley (Lady Captain, Royal Belfast Golf Club). Picture by Pat Cashman

Pauline Walsh (Headfort) shows her delight after holing from off the 12th green during the final round of the 2012 Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay Championship at Royal Belfast Golf Club 14/09/2012. Picture by Pat CashmanIrish Senior Women’s Open, Royal Belfast

Final 54 hole scores (PAR 74, SSS 73, CSS 76RO 76RO 76RO)

238 Minna Kaarnalahti (FIN) 83 79 76

243 Sheena McElroy (Grange) 82 81 80

246 Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast) 87 76 83

247 Helen Jones (Royal Portrush) 85 77 85

252 Gertie McMullen (The Island) 79 85 88

256 Mary McKenna (Donabate) 85 88 83 Kate Evans (ENG) 80 85 91

257 Alison Murdoch (CAN) 87 79 91

259 Alison Reifers (USA) 91 82 86 Pauline Walsh (Headfort) 88 89 82

260 Valerie Hassett (Lahinch) 89 84 87

261 Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) 87 88 86 Adrienne Crowley (Woodbrook) 88 83 90

262 Mary Maclaren (ENG) 85 89 88

263 Angela Colm (CAN) 90 90 83 Catherine Reilly (The Heath) 89 91 83 Fionnuala McGrady (Dunmurry) 89 85 89

264 Janet Wilson (Royal Belfast) 87 88 89 Diane Williams (CAN) 86 86 92

266 Patricia Boyd (Royal Belfast) 94 84 88 Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) 94 81 91

267 Valerie Shannon (Lahinch) 88 91 88

268 Pamela Williamson (SCO) 90 94 84

269 Rosemary Hayes (Hermitage) 92 87 90

270 Gemma Butler (Birr) 86 93 91 Jennifer Mack (SCO) 92 84 94

272 Mary Kavanagh (New Ross) 94 84 94

273 Judy Collins (CAN) 91 91 91

275 Marlene Summers (USA) 96 88 91

276 Helen Faulds (SCO) 94 89

277 Helen Castonguay (CAN) 89 95 93 Elaine Elborn (Bangor) 94 90 93

278 Mary Geaney (Killarney) 92 92 94

279 Ann Monteith (Slieve Russell) 92 96 91

281 Paula Murray (Naas) 85 98 98

282 Carmel Cahill (Hermitage) 93 94 95

283 Pauline Bailie (Belvoir Park) 89 99 95 Ann McAuley (Laytown & Bettystown) 94 97 92

285 Marie Conlon (The Heath) 88 95 102

287 Grainne Killen (Kilkeel) 95 93 99

Not available for final round

182 Roma English (Larne) 93 89

189 Lee Ann Igoe (USA) 91 98

Missed cut

193 Elisabeth Wendels (SWE) 98 95 Janice Paterson (SCO) 95 98 Pamela Morgan (Lahinch) 93 100

194 Barbara Black (Dunmurry) 97 97

197 Kath Stewart Moore (Royal Portrush) 96 101 Heidi Simpson (Royal Portrush) 98 99 Judy Clarke (Royal Portrush) 102 95

198 Nancy Sneed (USA) 98 100

199 Terry Wells (Royal Belfast) 100 99

200 Becky Uritus (USA) 98 102 Mai McCann (Narin & Portnoo) 96 104

206 Sonja Gottschalch (DEN) 102 104

216 Breda Farrell (Curra West) 106 110

225 Sheila Bodmer (SWI) 103 122

RTD Linda Ward (CAN) 96 RTD

Marjorie McCorduck (President, Irish Ladies Golf Union) presenting the Roma English Trophy (Best Gross Over 60) to Mary McKenna (Donabate) at the 2012 Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay Championship after her victory at Royal Belfast Golf Club 14/09/2012. Also in the picture is Janet Walmsley (Lady Captain, Royal Belfast Golf Club). Picture by Pat Cashman

NATIONS CUP

(2 from 3 scores to count for Rounds 1 & 2 only)

325 IRELAND A (Helen Jones 85 77 Sheena McElroy 82 81 Violet McBride [87] [88])

338 CANADA A (Angela Colm [90] [90] Alison Murdoch 87 79 Diane Williams 86 86)

338 IRELAND B (Mary MacLaren 85 [89] Gertie McMullen 79 85 Pauline Walsh [88] 89)

355 SCOTLAND (Helen Faulds [94] 89 Jennifer Mack 92 84 Pamela Williamson 90 [94])

357 USA A (Alison Reifers 91 82 Nancy Sneed [98] [100] Marlene Summers 96 88)

366 CANADA B (Helen Castonguay 89 95 Judy Collins 91 91 Linda Ward [96] RTD)

389 USA B (Lee Anne Igoe 91 98 Becky Uritus 98 102)

399 SCANDINAVIA (Sheila Bodmer [103] [122] Sonja Gottschalch 102 104 Elisabeth Wendels 98 95)