Scanlon and Coulter top Irish at Women's Amateur as some big guns struggle
New Irish recruit Roisin Scanlon shot a four-under 69 to lie just a shot behind pace-setter Esme Hamilton in the race to make the top 64 who qualify for the Women’s Amateur at Hunstanton today.
Playing out of Woburn, she is the daughter of former Irish long jump and triple jump athlete Taneisha Robinson-Scanlon.
“I was kind of surprised the way I played,” Scanlon said. “I wasn’t expecting a round like that today. I was just holing a lot of putts and getting close to the pin, I think was key. I think it was windy for the front nine and then as you got to the back nine it died down, so it was very helpful. Obviously there are some players that got to come this year but couldn't do it last year because of travelling [challenges], and so I was a bit nervous. But I'm feeling for confident in my round.”
AIG Irish Women’s Close champion Beth Coulter is 13th after a two-under 71 with Lahinch’s Aine Donegan 46th after a level-par 73.
Canice Screene shot 74 to lie 53rd with Hermitage’s Kate Lanigan 63rd after a 74 and Curtis Cup star Lauren Walsh from Castlewarden sitting in the hot seat at 64th after a 75.
Clandeboye’s Rebekah Gardner shot 77 to lie 98th with Elm Park’s Anna Foster, last year’s Irish Close winner, 111th after a 78.
Recent Irish Close runner-up Sara Byrne from Douglas was 134th with Lahinch’s Aideen Walsh 137th after they carded eight-over 81s.