Kaarnalahti denies McMullen at sixth extra hole
To the Victor a kiss, to the Vanquished a hug........Minna Kaarnalahti (Finland) receives a kiss from her husband caddy JP while caddy Frazer McMullen gives his wife Gertie a hug at the end of the six-hole play off in the 2014 Irish Senior Women's Open Strokeplay at Dundalk Golf Club (12/09/2014). Picture by Pat Cashman
Finland’s Minna Kaarnalahti defeated defending champion Gertie McMullen on the sixth tie hole to win her third Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay title in four years at Dundalk, writes the ILGU.
Gertie McMullen (The Island) reacts to a missed putt on the 23rd hole during the final round of the 2014 Irish Senior Women's Open Strokeplay at Dundalk Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman
Kaarnalahti closed the three-shot gap on overnight leader McMullen (77) with a fine one over par 74 in breezy conditions leaving them on 227 after 54 holes.
The two past champions swapped the lead throughout the round until McMullen forced extra time with an impressive regulation par on the home green.
The first and 18th were shared twice before Kaarnalahti seized the initiative with a closing bogey at the sixth extra hole to claim her third title in four years.
Ireland’s team of Pat Doran (Donabate), Sheena McElroy (Grange) and Gertie McMullen (The Island) won the Nations Cup from Canada, USA and The Netherlands.
Mary McKenna (President, Irish Ladies Golf Union) presenting Minna Kaarnalahti (Finland) with the 2014 Irish Senior Women's Open Strokeplay trophy after her victory at Dundalk Golf Club (12/09/2014). Also in the picture is Anne Doohan (Lady Captain, Dundalk Golf Club). Picture by Pat Cashman
FINAL 54 HOLE SCORES (PAR 73 SSS 74 CSS 74 74 74)
227 Minna Kaarnalahti (FIN) 75 78 74
227 Gertie McMullen (The Island) 74 76 77
234 Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna) 77 78 79
236 Pat Doran (Donabate) 80 80 76 Helen Jones (Royal Portrush) 80 80 76 Alison Murdoch (CAN) 78 79 79
238 Mary MacLaren (Royal Portrush) 80 81 77
240 Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) 77 82 81
241 Gabi Heuchel (ENG) 77 83 81 Mary Dowling (Mallow) 77 81 83
242 Kate Evans (RCD Ladies) 82 77 83 Catherine Reilly (The Heath) 74 84 84
243 Ita Donnelly (Dundalk) 75 82 86
244 Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast) 84 81 79 Becky Neal (USA) 83 82 79
246 Anne Ferguson (Ogbourne Downs) 83 81 82
249 Leslie Olive Henry (USA) 86 80 83 Georgia McCravey (USA) 82 84 83
250 Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) 86 84 80
251 Wanda Mochtar (NED) 87 81 83
252 Ann McAuley (Laytown & Bettystown) 91 80 81 Gill Rouiller (Mannan Castle) 83 86 83 Diane Williams (CAN) 83 85 84
254 Valerie Hassett (Ennis) 88 80 86 Kay McCartan (Greenore) 83 84 87
255 Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) 80 87 88
256 Judy Collins (CAN) 89 84 83 Pauline Walsh (Headfort) 83 89 84
257 Valerie Shannon (Lahinch) 89 87 81 Mary Feenan (CAN) 88 87 82
258 Pamela Williamson (SCO) 93 83 82 Mary McGoey (Greenore) 86 82 90 Paula Murray (Naas) 85 86 87 Evelyn Blackmon (USA) 84 87 87
261 Linda Evers (USA) 90 84 87 Nancy Beck (USA) 82 87 92
263 Elizabeth Neville (Bearna) 93 84 86
265 Patricia Black (Headfort) 94 85 86
266 Manja Reef (NED) 87 85 94
268 Ada Vrolijk (NED) 91 91 86
270 Iet Hagels (NED) 87 94 89 Joan Curran (Laytown & Bettystown) 87 92 91
271 Helen Thornton (Ardee) 94 88 89
282 Nancy Jackson (USA) 98 91 93
WD Grainne O'Connor (Skerries) 89 85
DQ Sheena McElroy (Grange) 76 DSQ
Minna Kaarnalahti (Finland) reacts to a missed putt on the 22nd hole during the final round of the 2014 Irish Senior Women's Open Strokeplay at Dundalk Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman
NATIONS CUP (2 scores from 3 to count each round)
- 459 IRELAND A Pat Doran [80] 80 76 Sheena McElroy 76 [DSQ] [DSQ] Gertie McMullen 74 76 77
- 467 IRELAND B Suzanne Corcoran 77 78 79 Mary Dowling 77 [81] [83] Helen Jones [80] 80 76
- 488 CANADA A Alison Murdoch 78 79 79 Diane Williams 83 85 84
- 489 USA A Nancy Beck 82 [87] [92] Leslie Olive Henry [86] 80 83 Becky Neal 83 82 79
- 504 USA B Evelyn Blackmon 84 [87] 87 Linda Evers [90] 84 [87] Georgia McCravey 82 84 83
- 513 CANADA B Judy Collins 89 84 83 Mary Feenan 88 87 82
- 521 NETHERLANDS A Iet Hagels 87 94 89 Wanda Mochtar 87 81 83
- 534 NETHERLANDS B Manja Reef 87 85 94 Ada Vrolijk 91 91 86
