Sara Byrne (Douglas) on the 4th tee during Matchplay Day 1 of the AIG Irish Women's Amateur Close Championship, Ballybunion Golf Club, Ballybunion, Co. Kerry, Ireland. © Golffile | Thos Caffrey

Munster golfers dominated the opening day of matchplay combat in the AIG Irish Women’s Close with seven golfers from the province through to the last 16 at Ballybunion.

Douglas’ Sara Byrne, who won the title at Enniscrone in 2018, racked up the most impressive margin of victory with 7&6 win over Foyle’s Lauren Murray.

After finishing fourth in qualifying, the University of Miami star closed out her opponent on the 12th and now faces Kilkenny’s Jan Browne for a place in the quarter-finals.

"I was a little bumpy in the first three holes, but after that I got into the swing of things with a couple of birdies and an eagle,” Byrne said. “I played pretty solid, and conditions were far calmer too.

"The legs are a bit sore after yesterday, and tomorrow will be long. This week will be mentally and physically draining, so I'm delighted to get back in early, and get ready for tomorrow."

It was a day for the leading qualifiers with 15 of the top 16 advancing to today's matches with Browne’s 2&1 win over Castlewarden's Clodagh Walsh 2&1 in the day's only upset.

Leading qualifier Beth Coulter was taken to the 17th hole by Hannah Lee-McNamara, while Lahinch's Aine Donegan and Ballybunion's Emma O'Driscoll both recorded 5&3 wins.

Coulter now faces Elm Park’s Emma Fleming, a 3&2 winner over Tramore’s Anna Dawson as Donegan takes on Co Louth’s Deirdre Smith

Kanturk’s Mairead Martin beat Royal Tara’s Hannah Guerin 2&1 as Ballykisteen’s Caitlin Shippam knocked out Lahinch’s Niamh O’Dwyer by one hole.

"I'm playing it day by day and will see what happens tomorrow,” Martin said. “It's great to be back here on a course I know, and I'm excited to see what the weekend holds. It's all about enjoying myself out there tomorrow.”

It was also a good day for Cork’s Rachel Thompson who was relieved to beat Woodbrook’s Lauren Murray on the 19th hole.

"I played better on Thursday, but I'm delighted to advance to the weekend,” said Thompson, who now plays Valerie Clancy, a 57 3 winner over Kate Dillon.

“It was good to get a match going down the 19th hole and feel that pressure before tomorrow. Playing only one round today, I didn't mind going into extra holes and getting the adrenaline pumping."

In the Ita Wallace Plate, Royal Curragh’s Charlie Maxwell, Clanbdeboye’s Molly O'Hara, Elm Park’s Leah Temple Lang and Westmanstown’s Emma Gilmore reached the semi-finals.

AIG Irish Women's Amateur Close Championship, Ballybunion GC

Scores

First round

Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle bt Hannah Lee-McNamara (Foyle) 2&1;

Emma Fleming (Elm Park) bt Anna Dawson (Tramore) 3&2;

Rachel Thompson Cork) bt Lauren Murray Woodbrook) 19th;

Valerie Clancy (Killarney) bt Kate Dillon (Oughterard) 5&3;

Sara Byrne (Douglas bt Lauren Kelly (Ballykisteen) 7&6;

Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden) lost to Jan Browne (Kilkenny) 2&1;

Caitlin Shippam (Ballykisteen bt Niamh O'Dwyer (Lahinch) 1 hole;

Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe) bt Corrina Griffin (Killarney) 1 hole;

Aine Donegan (Lahinch) bt Vicki Conlon (Enniscrone) 5&3;

Deirdre Smith (Co Louth) bt Kate Dwyer (Rossmore) 2&1;

Mairead Martin (Kanturk) bt Hannah Guerin (Royal Tara) 2&1;

Olivia Costello (Roscommon) bt Mary Sheehy (Tralee) 3&2;

Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion) bt Aoife Ni Thuama Douglas) 5&3;

Katie Poots (Knock) bt Rebekah Gardner (Clandeboye) 2&1;

Kate Lanigan (Hermitage) bt Paula Walsh (Doneraile) 2&1;

Anna Foster (Elm Park) bt Clodagh Coughlan (Douglas) 3&2.

Today

Rd 2 (from 8.08 at 8 minute intervals):

B Coulter v E Fleming;
R Thompson v V Clancy;
S Byrne v J Browne;
C Shippam v S Burke;
A Donegan v D Smith;
M Martin v O Costello;
E O’Driscoll v K Poots;
K Lanigan v A Foster.

Ita Wallace Plate

Scores

First round

Alicia Burke bt Ellen Lonergan 5&4

Niamh O'Grady lost to Charlie Maxwell 5&3

Molly O'Hara bt Annabel Greham 4&3

Ellen O'Gorman bt Blaithin O'Brien 1 hole

Anna Abom bt Ellen O'Shaughnessy 20th

Leah Temple Lang bt Roisin Connolly 4&3

Ailish Thompson lost to Ada Bowler 7&6

Emma Gilmore bt Oliva McCrystal 3&1

Quarter-Finals

Alicia Burke lost to Charlie Maxwell 3&1

Molly O'Hara bt Ellen O'Gorman 21st

Anna Abom lost to Leah Temple Lang 3&2

Ada Bowler lost to Emma Gilmore 1 hole

Today

Semi-finals

(8.0) C Maxwell v M O’Hara;
(8.08) L Temple Lang v E Gilmore.