Webb makes history at Athenry
Winner Laura Webb (East Berkshire) with her 87 year old mother Sheila Bolton and her caddy daughter Becky after her victory in the final of the 2014 Irish Senior Women's Close Championship at Athenry. Picture by Pat Cashman www.cashmanphotography.ie
Laura Webb (née Bolton) created a piece of golfing history at Athenry on Friday when she became the first player to win complete the triple crown of the Irish Girls', Irish Women's and Irish Senior Women's Close titles.
Now playing out of East Berkshire, the former Cairndhu player won the Irish Senior crown in emphatic fashion with a 6 and 5 victory of Laytown and Bettystown's Carol Wickham.
Winner of the Irish Girls' Close in 1979 and the Irish Women's title in 1988 and 1994, it was an emotional occasion for Laura who had her daughter Becky on the bag and was cheered to victory her 87-year old mother Sheila.
Wickham seized the initiative early on with a win at the third hole but Webb soon settled and continued her recent strong form to level the match going to the fifth tee.
A couple of birdies interspersed among a string of pars saw Webb surge ahead in the tie to turn three up, a lead she never relinquished. Earlier in the day both semi-finals ended on the 13th green after Webb defeated Mallow's Mary Dowling and Wickham ended the hopes of defending champion Portumna's Suzanne Corcoran.
In the Plate, Royal County Down Ladies' Kate Evans won the second hole against Dun Laoghaire's Niamh Giblin to take a two hole advantage to the turn, but undeterred Giblin rallied strongly to win the last three holes to edge home one up at the last.
IRISH SENIOR WOMEN’S CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP – ATHENRY, 1–4 JULY
CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Laura Webb (East Berkshire) beat Carol Wickham (Laytown & Bettystown) 6/5
CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI FINALS
Mary Dowling (Mallow) lost to Laura Webb (East Berkshire) 7/5
Carol Wickham (Laytown & Bettystown) beat Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna) 7/5
CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER FINALS
Pat Doran (Donabate) lost to Mary Dowling (Mallow) 1up
Sheena McElroy (Grange) lost to Laura Webb (East Berkshire) 3/2
Carol Wickham (Laytown & Bettystown) beat Gertie McMullen (The Island) at 19
Catherine Reilly (The Heath) lost to Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna) 4/3
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 1
Pat Doran (Donabate) beat Lily Owens (Malahide) 6/4
Mary Dowling (Mallow) beat Helen Jones (Royal Portrush) 2/1
Sheena McElroy (Grange) beat Maria McNamara (Athenry) 8/7
Clodagh Hopkins (Woodbrook) lost to Laura Webb (East Berkshire) 6/5
Carol Wickham (Laytown & Bettystown) beat Elizabeth Neville (Bearna) 4/2
Fiona McComb (Ballycastle) lost to Gertie McMullen (The Island) 6/5
Catherine Reilly (The Heath) beat Mary MacLaren (Wellingborough) at 19th
Sinead Heraty (Castle) lost to Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna) 4/3
PLATE FINAL
Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) beat Kate Evans (RCD Ladies) 1up
PLATE SEMI FINALS
Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) lost to Kate Evans (RCD Ladies) 4/3
Pauline Walsh (Headfort) lost to Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) 2/1
PLATE QUARTER FINALS
Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) beat Valerie Hassett (Ennis) 1up
Mary Geaney (Killarney) lost to Kate Evans (RCD Ladies) 4/3
Mary Duane (Hermitage) lost to Pauline Walsh (Headfort) 4/3
Marjorie Ahern (Lahinch) lost to Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) 5/4
PLATE ROUND 1
Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) beat Valerie Shannon (Lahinch) 1up
Valerie Hassett (Ennis) beat Stephanie McNiff (Tullamore) 5/4
Marie Carr (Athenry) lost to Mary Geaney (Killarney) at 19th
Gemma Butler (Birr) lost to Kate Evans (RCD Ladies) 3/2
Mary Duane (Hermitage) beat Toni McDonagh (Fortwilliam) 2up
Pauline Walsh (Headfort) beat Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) 1up
Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast) lost to Marjorie Ahern (Lahinch) 4/3
Fionnuala McGrady (Dunmurry) lost to Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) 5/3
