GOLF/Irish Women's Close Championship: As a player who has been nurtured on this course, Claire Coughlan - the 1999 champion - can attest to some degree of local knowledge, and she used it to good effect in taking the Leitrim Cup as leading qualifier in the Lancome Irish Women's Close Championship at Cork Golf Club, Little Island, yesterday.
Coughlan shot a three-under-par 71 for a 36-holes total of 147, which put her level with overnight leader Rebecca Coakley. However, Coughlan, helped by an eagle, took the honour of leading qualifier by virtue of a better second round.
Although Coughlan holed her wedge shot for eagle on the fifth, it was her performance over the back nine that was impressive as she claimed birdies at the 11th, 13th and 14th. She plays Sandra Atkinson, of Woodbrook, in today's first round of matchplay.
There were no surprises in the qualifying round as Alison Coffeyand Martina Gillen qualified comfortably.
While all six members of the Irish under-21 team for the European championships in Moscow survived, there was also a fine performance from Irish seniors champion Mary McKenna, an eight times champion, who qualified for a first round encounter with Maura Morrin.
DAY TWO QUALIFYING: 147 - C Coughlan (Cork) 76 71, R Coakley (Carlow) 72 75; 151 - M Gillen (Beaverstown) 75 76; 152 - A Coffey (Warrenpoint) 77 75; 154 - S Keane (Curragh) 77 77, D McGowan (Ballybofey\Stranorlar) 77 77, E Dickson (Royal Co Down) 74 80, T Mangan (Ennis) 74 80 156 - K MacCann (Douglas) 79 77, S Corcoran (Portumna) 78 78; 157 - M Morrin (The Curragh) 80 77, M Dowling (New Ross) 80 77, S Phillips (Woodbrook) 79 78; 158 - M Sheehy (Tralee) 79 79; 159 - E Power (Kilkenny) 82 77, G O'Leary (Cork) 80 79, M Riordan (Tipperary) 79 80; 160 - B McLarnon (Fortwilliam) 78 82; 161 - J Gannon (Co Louth) 77 84; 162 - H Nolan (Shannon) 86 76, M Dunne (Skerries) 78 84; 163 - M McKenna (Donabate) 80 83; 164 - M Holmes (Enniscrone) 84 80, U Marsden (Tullamore) 83 81, S Hayes (Hermitage) 82 82; 166 - P Doran (Donabate) 85 81, D Smith (Co Louth) 82 84, A Burke (Charleville) 81 85, A Duggan (Killarney) 80 86; 167 - D Judge (Roscommon) 85 82, S Galvin (Limerick) 82 85, S Atkinson (Woodbrook) 79 88.
QUALIFIERS FOR ITA WALLACE TROPHY: 168 - B Gleeson Healy (Killarney) 88 80, J Cronin (Killarney) 87 81, S O'Sullivan (Galway) 84 84, L Browne (Courtown) 83 85, V Hassett (Ennis) 82 86, A Thompson (Douglas) 82 86; 169 - D Prendergast (Killarney) 85 84, V McWilliams (Holywood) 85 84, S Gallagher (Claremorris) 84 85, J Quinn (Co Louth) 84 85, S Heraty (Castle) 83 86; 171 - M Abernethy (Grange) 87 84; 172 - C Smyth (Massereene) 87 85, C Tucker (Limerick) 86 86, M Hayes (Tralee) 84 88; 173 - A Kingston (Bandon) 89 84, S O'Brien Kenney (Grange) 87 86; 176 - E MacMullen (Donegal) 90 86.
Withdrew - B Gleeson Healy (Killarney), S O'Brien Kenney (Grange).
•First round draw in SPORTS ROUND-UP
