IRELAND provided three of the top nine finishers in the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur golf championship at Royal Troon yesterday. Hazel Kavanagh (Grange) finished joint fourth on 223 after a one under par final round of 74.

Young Elaine Dowdall (Wexford) looks a 19 year old on the rise with her joint seventh finish at two over 225. She finished with a 78. Stirling University golf scholarship student Michelle McGreevy from Monaghan also figured at 225.

She hates playing the Royal Troon "monster" and her closing 79 was one of her better efforts over the links that will stage the British Open championship later this year.