Golf

Ireland take control in Senior Ladies Home Internationals

Gertie McMullen and Mary McLaren get Irish side off to positive start

Ireland face Wales on Thursday with Scotland going up against England. Photograph: Inpho
Ireland face Wales on Thursday with Scotland going up against England. Photograph: Inpho
Wed Sept 30 2015 - 20:16

Ireland seized the early momentum heading into day two of the Senior Ladies Home Internationals at Elm Park after recording an 8-0 whitewash against Scotland yesterday – while holders England were held 4-4 by Wales.

Five of the bronze-medal winning side from the European Senior Team Championship in Lithuania last month were back in action. And, joined by the experienced Pat Doran, helped steer the hosts to a convincing 3-0 win in the foursomes.

None of the ties went as far as the 18th with Irish Seniors champion and British Championship runner-up Gertie McMullen teaming up with Mary McLaren to see off Sheena Wood and Lesley Lloyd 3&1 – having been two-up at the turn.

McElroy and Doran then ensured Ireland went into the singles in front as, three-up after nine, they went on to earn a 3&2 victory over Alison Bartlett and Alex Glennie.

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Laura Webb and Suzanne Corcoran completed a good morning for Ireland by winning 4&3 against Fiona De Vries and Lorna McKinlay.

That domination then carried on into singles and, most notably, there was a crushing 7&6 win for newly-capped Mary Dowling over Glennie.

McElroy and Webb also enjoyed convincing wins over Lorna Bennett, 5&4 and Lloyd 5&3, respectively.

McMullen defeated Wood 4&3 with Corcoran seeing off McKinlay by the same margin to round-off a crushing opening day win.

Defending champions England, meanwhile, who are gunning for a hat-trick of titles, recovered from the early setback of going 2-1 down through the foursomes to halve their tie with Wales - winning three of the five singles contests.

Ireland face Wales today with Scotland going up against England.

Results (Ireland names first) - Foursomes: G McMullen & M MacLaren beat S Wood & L Lloyd 3&1; S McElroy & P Doran beat A Bartlett & A Glennie 3&2; L Webb & S Corcoran beat F De Vries & L McKinlay 4&3. Singles: G McMullen beat S Wood 4&3; S McElroy beat L Bennett 5&4; S Corcoran beat L McKinlay 4&3; M Dowling beat A Glennie 7&6; L Webb beat L Lloyd 5&3. Match result: Ireland 8-0 Scotland.

Other Wales result: Wales 4-4 England