Last four fireworks likely at Irish Girls Close
Killarney's Valerie Clancy
Killarney's Valerie Clancy, Woodstock's Aine Donegan, Elm Park's Emma Fleming or Hermitage's Kate Lanigan will be crowned 2018 Irish Girls’ Close Champion at Clandeboye Golf Club.
Fleming secured her spot in the semi-final by overcoming Holywood's Olivia McCrystal 6&5.
The Dubliner, who turned 13 in March, saw off one of the favourites in Kirkistown Castle's Beth Coulter on the 18th in her morning match but needed a birdie four on the last to do so.
Coulter went three down to Fleming with three holes to play, but despite making birdies at the last three holes, she was unable to get the better of the youngster, who has also beaten Senior International Lauren Walsh in recent weeks.
Lanigan, who has won her thre matches 7&5, 7&6 and 6&5, will be the next opponent for Fleming which will begin at 8:10 am on Saturday morning.
Leading qualifier Emma Foster edged past local girl Rebekah Gardner in the last 16 but bowed out to Valerie Clancy in the quarter-final.
Clancy’s confidence continues to grow and while none of her matches have gone further than the 16th this week, a semi-final match up against fellow Irish Girls teammate Donegan may go the distance.
Making her International debut last week in Sweden at the European Girls Team Championships, Donegan’s strength off the tee will no doubt give her an advantage.
Playing in her first National Semi-Final, the Ennis girl plans to enjoy the challenge of a matchup versus the experienced Clancy.
Meanwhile, in the Pat Fletcher Trophy (Plate) Chloe O’Connor (Roscommon) needed extra holes to overcome local favourite Molly O’Hara (Clandeboye), despite home advantage, O’Connor won the 18th and subsequently the 19th to set up semi-final match versus Corrina Griffin (Killarney). Niamh O’Dywer (Lahinch) and Emma Thorne (Elm Park) will compete in the other semi-final. Both finals are set to tee off at 1.00pm and 1.15pm on Saturday afternoon.
Irish Girls Amateur Close, Clandeboye
Round 1 – Thursday 19 July
- A Foster beat A Greham 2&1,
- R Gardner beat C Griffin 3&2,
- L Walsh beat S Hegarty 5&4,
- V Clancy beat O Hunt 3&2,
- A Donegan beat M O’Hara 2 Holes,
- O McClurg lost to L Temple Lang 4&3,
- S Byrne beat S McGuinness 5&4,
- C O’Connor lost to A Bowler 19th,
- C Screene beat N O’Dwyer 2&1,
- A Dawson lost to O McCrystal 4&3,
- B Coulter beat C Brennan 4&3,
- E Fleming beat J Browne 7&6,
- K Lanigan beat T McMillen 7&5,
- T Laverty lost to L Kelly 1 Hole,
- G Carr beat F Behan 3&2,
- E Thorne lost to K O’Hart 6&5
Last 16 - Friday 20 July
- A Foster beat R Gardner 1 Hole,
- L Walsh lost to V Clancy 6&5,
- A Donegan beat L Temple Lang 5&3,
- S Byrne lost to A Bowler 1 Hole,
- C Screene lost to Olivia McCrystal 5&4,
- B Coulter lost to E Fleming 1 Hole,
- K Lanigan beat L Kelly 7&6,
- G Carr beat K O’Hart 2&1
Quarter-Finals – Friday 20 July
- A Foster lost to V Clancy 5&4,
- A Donegan beat A Bowler 5&3,
- O McCrystal lost to E Fleming 6&5,
- K Lanigan beat G Carr 6&5
Semi-Finals – Saturday 21 July
- 08:00 V Clancy v A Donegan,
- 08:10 E Fleming v K Lanigan
Plate Matchplay
Last 16 - Friday 20 July
- A Greham lost to C Griffin 7&6,
- S Hegarty lost to O Hunt 5&4,
- M O’Hara beat O McClurg 20th,
- S McGuinness lost to C O’Connor 7&5,
- N O’Dwyer beat A Dawson W/O,
- C Brennan lost to J Browne,
- T McMillen lost to T Laverty 18th,
- F Behan lost to E Thorne W/O
Quarter-Finals – Friday 20 July
- C Griffin beat O Hunt 4&3,
- Molly O’Hara lost to Chloe O’Connor 19th,
- N O’Dwyer beat J Browne 6&5,
- T Laverty lost to E Thorne 5&3
Semi-Finals – Saturday 21 July
- 08:20 C Griffin v C O’Connor
- 08:30 N O’Dwyer v E Thorne
