Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion) defeated Paula Grant (Lisburn) in the final of the Lancome Girls' Irish Close Championship at Castletroy to lift the trophy for the first time in her career.
O'Driscoll, who had earlier beaten fellow international Patrice Delaney (Birr) by 3&2 in the semi-final of the Championship, was in devastating form in this afternoon and inflicted a 7&6 defeat on the young Paula Grant from Lisburn.
This win is the highlight of what has already been a very successful season for O'Driscoll. To date she has claimed the Connacht Women’s and Girls' Championships as well as the Leinster Girls' Championship and also finished runner-up at the Munster Women's and Girls' Championships earlier in the year.
The final of the Plate produced a similar result with Jessica Carty (Holywood), the leading qualifier of the tournament, producing some excellent golf to beat Terri Byrne (Coollattin) by a margin of 6&5.
Results
Friday 17 July: Championship (Blake Cup) - Final
Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion) bt Paula Grant (Lisburn) 7&6
Friday 17 July: Championship (Blake Cup) - Semi-final
Paula Grant (Lisburn) beat Sarah Murray (Co Louth) 1up
Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion) beat Patrice Delaney (Birr) 3&2
Friday 17 July: Plate (Pat Fletcher Trophy) - Final
Jessica Carty (Holywood) beat Terri Byrne (Coollattin) 6&5
Friday 17 July: Plate (Pat Fletcher Trophy) - Semi-finals
Jessica Carty (Holywood) beat Emma Murphy (Wexford) 6&5
Terri Byrne (Coollattin) beat Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) 2&1
Irish Team for the Girls Home International Matches
Fairhaven Golf Club, England, 4 – 6 August
Patrice Delaney (Birr)
Paula Grant (Lisburn)
Sarah Helly (Enniscrone)
Laura McCarthy (Muskerry)
Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell)
Lisa Maguire(Slieve Russell)
Emma O’Driscoll (Ballybunion)
Carla Reynolds (Seapoint)
Captain – Sinead Keane (The Curragh)
Manager – Mary Dowling (New Ross)
Reserves in order:
Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint)
Sarah Murray (Co Louth)
Sarah Louise Winter (Carnalea)
