IRISH LADIES STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIPS
DUBLIN STAR CHASES KEATING'S ALL-TIME RECORD
Geraldine Ward won her thirteenth Irish ladies singles championship at Rocklodge on Sunday July 13th. The Portmarnock legend picked-up her fourth Strokeplay title in six years and a fifth in all. Her baker's dozen of Irish championships (including eight Matchplays) is just one short of the all time record held by Cork's Clare Keating, who won fourteen times between 1963 and 1977.
Keating won six Strokeplay titles and Ger ard now stands alone in second place on the Strokeplay Roll of Honour ahead of Teresa McGuigan and Margaret Hogan. Holder Ger fired rounds of 46, 47 and 51 for a eighteen under par 54 hole aggregate and a three shot win at Rocklodge, the famous old venue hosting this particular championship for the first time in 41 years.
Reigning Irish Matchplay champion Tara Dillon scored 51, 47 and 49 to be second on 15 under par, a shot ahead of Catalan Open and French Open champion Tracey McGrath. Tracey filled third place for the second sucessive year, after a fourth place in 2006 and another bronze medal three years ago.
Chrissie Byrne, who played for Ireland in the 2006 World Cup, clinched the final exempt slot for the 2009 championship after finishing fourth on 11 under.
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