Double up for Gertie
Valerie Hassett (President, ILGU) presenting Gertie McMullen (The Island) with the 2016 Irish Senior Women's Open Strokeplay trophy after her victory at Arklow. Also pictured, Martina Tancred (Lady Captain, Arklow Golf Club). Picture by Pat Cashman
The Island’s Gertie McMullen completed a memorable double when she survived wet and windy final round conditions to come from behind to add the Irish Senior Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship to her victory in the Irish Senior Women’s Close earlier this year.
Alone in fifth and four shots behind leader Suzanne Corcoran starting the third and final round, the Senior international posted a five over 77 to win by four shots from Canada’s Alison Murdoch (79) on 18 over par.
“I am ecstatic, I can’t believe it,” said McMullen, who had her husband Frazer on her bag. "To have two Irish Opens and two Irish Close Championships now is just incredible!”
The Heath’s Catherine Reilly shot a best of the day, two over 74 to set the clubhouse target at 284. But she ended up a long way back in tied 12th as McMullen dealt brilliantly with the tough conditions to move into a tie for the lead with Corcoran with nine holes to play.
Alison Murdoch (Canada) holing her bunker shot at the 14th green in the final round of the 2016 Irish Senior Women's Open Strokeplay at Arklow Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman
The leading pair were one shot ahead of Grange’s Sheena McElroy with Donabate’s Pat Doran a further shot behind.
As the gales strengthened both Corcoran and South Africa’s Sonja Bland faltered on the tough closing holes to finish on 239 and 244 respectively.
McElroy finished with a closing 83 to tie for third place with Corcoran on 239. Canadian Alison Murdoch, who has travelled to this tournament for the last number of years and will go from Arklow to Liverpool to compete at the British Women’s Senior Open Stroke Play Championship next week, finished with a respectable 79 for second place.
McMullen won the Irish Senior Women’s Open Stroke Play in 2013 and following her successful defence of the Irish Senior Women’s Close Championship, she can claim to be Ireland’s top senior.
She now travel to the British Senior’s next week followed by the Senior Women’s Home Internationals which will be played in Scotland from September 27 – 29.
The Irish Seniors Home International team is as follows:
- Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna)
- Sheena McElroy (Grange)
- Gertie McMullen (The Island)
- Maria O’Reilly (Headfort)
- Mary Sheehy (Tralee)
- Laura Webb (East Berkshire)
- Carol Wickham (Laytown and Bettystown)
- Captain: Pauline Walsh (Headfort)
- Manager: Valerie Hassett (Ennis)
Reserves: Pat Doran (Donate), Margaret McAuliffe (Ballybunion)
Irish Senior Women’s Open, Arklow (Par 72)
Prizes Winners
- Team Event Winners: Ireland A
- Best Nett Day 1: Geraldine Williams (Ballybunion)
- Best Nett Day 2: Catherine Reilly (The Heath)
- Best Nett Day 3: Marie Sudway (Old Conna)
- Overall Nett Runner Up: Vivienne Houston (City of Derry)
- Overall Nett Winner: Marie O’Reilly (Headfort)
- Over 60’s Nett: Sheena McElroy (Grange)
- Over 60’s Gross Winner: Alison Murdoch (Canada)
- Best Gross Day 1: Pat Doran (Donabate)
- Best Gross Day 2: Mary MacLaren (Royal Portrush)
- Best Gross Day 3: Catherine Reilly (The Heath)
- Overall Gross 4th: Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna)
- Overall Gross 3rd: Sheena McElroy (Grange)
- Overall Gross 2nd: Alison Murdoch (Canada)
- Overall Winner: Gertie McMullen (The Island)
Detailed scores
234 Gertie McMullen (Island) 80 77 77
238 Alison Murdoch (Canada) 76 83 79
239 Sheena McElroy (Grange) 76 80 83, Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna) 75 78 86
240 Maria O'reilly (Headfort) 82 77 81
241 Margaret McAuliffe (Ballybunion) 75 84 82
242 Mary Dowling (Mallow) 80 82 80
243 Lesley Olive Henry (USA) 81 80 82, Pat Doran (Donabate) 75 80 88
244 Sonja Bland (South Africa) 79 77 88
246 Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) 82 86 78
248 Catherine Reilly (The Heath) 84 90 74
250 Mary MacLaren (Royal Portrush) 89 77 84
252 Minna Kaarnalahti (Finland) 80 82 90
253 Susan Gilmore (Ballybunion) 81 84 88
254 Anne Ferguson (Royal Co. Down Ladies) 82 89 83
256 Becky Neal (USA) 86 87 83, Marie Sudway (Old Conna) 82 92 82, Irene Brien (England) 82 82 92
261 Vonny Kelly (Powerscourt) 86 84 91, Diane Williams (Canada) 85 91 85
262 Melissa Gotfredson (USA) 86 88 88, Valerie Shannon (Lahinch) 83 84 95
265 Nellie Ivory (Arklow) 85 86 94, Margaret Campion (Killarney) 84 89 92
267 Judy Collins (Canada) 89 92 86, Geraldine Williams (Ballybunion) 83 89 95
269 Rose Merriman (Clane) 89 87 93
271 Pamela Williamson (Scotland) 86 93 92
272 Cornelia Fischer (Germany) 92 87 93
273 Aingeal DeBurca (England) 89 95 89, Mai Tan (Dun Laoghaire) 88 92 93
274 Pauline Darcy (Arklow) 88 92 94
275 Ruth Farrell (Woodbrook) 93 85 97
276 Patricia Nolan (Arklow) 94 92 90
277 Ada Vrolijk (Netherlands) 87 95 95
278 Marita Byrne (Bunclody) 96 92 90
279 Anne Marie Carroll (Ballybunion) 94 95 90
NR/DQ/WD Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) 79 88 NR, Valerie Hassett (Ennis) 92 NR, Mairead Cronin (Stackstown) 92 94 DQ, Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast) 83 81 WD, Pauline Walsh (Headfort) 77 93 WD, Paula Murray (Naas) 90 WD, Clodagh Hopkins (Woodbrook) 87 WD
Cut
179 Siobhan O'Herlihy (Muskerry) 87 92, Margaret Worrall (Charlesland) 86 93, Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) 85 94
184 Marion Kennedy Hogan (Ballybunion) 90 94, Honoria Fogarty (Castlecomer) 85 99
192 Linda Ward (Canada) 92 100, Manja Reef (Netherlands) 90 102
193 Mary O'Donoghue (Ballybunion) 91 102
196 Marijn Ferguson (Netherlands) 96 100
198 Michelle Dempsey (Charlesland) 93 105, Margaret Furlong (Castlecomer) 92 106
202 Sheila Crosbie (Rosslare) 99 103
