Bland leads Irish Senior Women's Open at Grange
Sonja Bland (South Africa). Picture by Pat Cashman
South Africa's Sonja Bland shot a four-over 78 to take a two-shot lead into day two of the Irish Senior Women’s Open Stroke Play at Grange.
After a double-bogey six at the second, she birdied the seventh and eighth but bogeyed the ninth before following another bogey at the 15th with a double-bogey six at the last.
Grange Golf Club
Canada's Terrill Samuel and Malahide's Lily Owens share second place on six over after rounds of 80 with a further six players carding 81 — Mary MacLaren, Gertie McMullen, Carol Wickham, Pauline Walsh and Americans Kerri Billingsley and Gigi Higgins.
The top 40 and ties after Thursday's second round will qualifying for the final round on Friday.
Guatemala's Beatriz Arenas (70), who played in the Espirito Santo Trophy at Carton House, opened with an 82 to sit alone in 10th place on eight-over.
Irish Senior Women's Open Stroke Play Championship, Grange GC (Par 74)
78 S Bland (South Africa)
80 T Samuel (Canada); L Owens (Malahide)
81 K Billingsley (USA); M Maclaren (Wellingborough); C Wickham (Laytown & Bettystown); G McMullen (The Island); P Walsh (Headford); G Higgins (USA)
82 B Arenas (Guatemala)
83 S McElroy (Grange)
85 H Jones (Royal Portrush); S Corcoran (Portumna)
86 K Evans (RCDL); M Skog (Finland)
87 L Culver (USA); A Deburca (England); M Kaarnalahti (Finland); M McEvoy (Bangor); M McAuliffe (Ballybunion)
88 P Murray (Naas); V Cotter (Old Conna); A Coduti (Italy); P Doran (Donabate)
89 C Dettori (Italy); M Madden (Ballinasloe)
91 N Beck (USA); M Sudway (Old Conna); E Blackmon (USA); P Williamson (Scotland)
92 S Podolsky (USA); L Henry (USA); S Arnold (England); M Campion (Killarney Golf & Fishing Club); V Shannon (Lahinch); S Jackson (USA); a Pavesi (Italy)
93 R Linnane (Elm Park); F Corbett (Castletroy); M Conlon (Portarlington); G Butler (Birr); R Maguire (Corrstown)
94 M O’Donoghue (Ballybunion); C Reilly (The Heath)
95 M Worrall (Charlesland); M Henderson (Royal Belfast)
96 P Nolan (Arklow Golf Club); M Gotfredson (USA); K Overend (Old Conna)
97 M Melican (Old Conna); H Fogarty (Castlecomer)
98 A Vrolijk (Netherlands); H Simpson (Royal Portrush)
99 N Ivory (Arklow); S Gilmore Kettler (Ballybunion); M Stow (England)
100 K Lucey (England); D Williams (Canada); K Pollard (England)
101 V Hassett (Ennis)
103 V Kelly (Powerscourt)
104 H Ekstrom (Finland)
NS I Brien (England)
