Ross holds firm as Wilson enjoys happy return at Irish Women's Close
Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) during the first round of the Irish Women’s Close at Woodbrook. Picture Fran Caffrey / Golffile.ie
Leading qualifier Jessica Ross produced a blistering finish to see off Lucan's Molly Dowling and reach the last 16 of the Irish Women's Amateur Close at Woodbrook.
Two down with five holes to play after Dowling aced the 13th, the Clandeboye star birdied the 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th to win by two holes and now meets Kilkenny's Jan Browne for a place in the quarter-finals.
Lisburn's Paula Grant, Castlewarden's Lauren Walsh and Lurgan's Annabel Wilson also comfortably progressed.
Wilson has just completed her A Level exams but is back in her happy place on the golf course before starting her collegiate career at UCLA in September.
“It’s brilliant to be back playing, it’s the biggest break I’ve ever taken. I played the Italian Amateur in March but I said to myself – it’s only 2 or 3 months of my life, the A levels are the toughest exams you’ll do so I wanted to give 100% to that rather than be split 50-50. I’m happy with the decision, it’s worked out well.”
‘The big one for me this week was to enjoy myself and have no expectations because I don’t know how I’m playing but so far I’m happy, I’ve been playing nice and I’ve kept the head.”
In the Ita Wallace Plate, Elm Park’s Emma Fleming will face Grange’s Emma Fenlon in the first semi-final as Enniscrone’s Hilary Hall takes Douglas’ Clodagh Coughlan.
Irish Women’s Close Championship, Woodbrook GC
Round 1
J Ross bt M Dowling 2 Holes;
J Browne bt L Mernagh 2&1;
A Foster bt V Clancy 3&2;
B Coulter bt S Sexton 1 Hole;
A Wilson bt K O'Hart 7&6;
E Metcalfe bt M Dunne 5&3;
S Burke bt E Gilmore 6&4;
R Thompson bt D Smith 6&4;
P Grant bt R Gardner 5&3;
C Casey bt M Cummins 2&1;
C Griffin bt G Carr 22nd;
N McSherry bt S Byrne 19th;
L Walsh bt P Walsh 5&4;
S Phillips bt L Simpson 1 Hole;
A Dawson bt E Murray 1 Hole;
L Coffey bt M O'Hara 3&1.
Ita Wallace Plate
Round 1
E Fleming bt C O'Grady 19th;
J Allen bt R McDonnell 1 Hole;
J O'Driscoll bt E Corcoran 4&3;
E Fenlon bt K Poots 19th;
U Marsden bt O Costello 4&3;
H Hall bt V Austin 2&1;
L Masding bt S McGuinness 6&4;
C Coughlan bt L Kelly 6&5.
Quarter Finals
E Fleming bt J Allen 4&3;
E Fenlon bt J O'Driscoll 2&1;
H Hall bt U Marsden 1 Hole;
C Coughlan bt L Masding 4&2.
Saturday
Championship Round 2
08:30 J Ross v J Browne;
08:38 A Foster v B Coulter;
08:46 A Wilson v E Metcalfe;
08:54 S Burke v R Thompson;
09:02 P Grant v C Casey;
09:10 C Griffin v N McSherry;
09:18 L Walsh v S Phillips;
09:26 A Dawson v L Coffey.
Ita Wallace Plate Semi Finals
09:42 E Fleming v E Fenlon;
09:50 H Hall v C Coughlan.
