Paula Grant leads strong Irish showing in Helen Holm
Paula Grant during the final round of the Irish Women's Open Stroke Play Championship at County Louth Golf Club. Picture: Jenny Matthews
Paula Grant looks like a certainty to be named in the Curtis Cup team next week and she’s still got a chance to secure her place with victory in the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Championship at Royal Troon.
The Lisburn star added a four-under 68 to her opening 74 at Troon Portland to go into Sunday’s final round at Troon’s Old Course tied for seventh, just four shots behind Sweden’s Linn Grant and Scotland’s Shannon McWilliam.
They lead by one-stroke on six-under-par from England’s Lily May Humphreys with Scotland’s Chloe Goadby and England’s Isobel Wardle just two strokes off the pace in fourth.
Castlewarden siblings Lauren and Clodagh Walsh are also enjoying excellent weeks in Scotland.
Lauren carded a second round 69 to move up to tied 16th with the ever-improving Clodagh, who made an eagle and four birdies in her 71.
The Walsh’s share 16th place on three-over with Ballinrobe's Shannon Burke with Portarlington’s Meadhbh Doyle tied 27th, Valerie Clancy tied 49th and Ciara Casey 60th.
In the team competition, the Irish team of Casey and Grant are fourth, 16 strokes behind Sweden and Scotland.
Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Championship, Royal Troon & Troon Portland
T1 Linn Grant (Swe) -6 69 69 138
T1 Shannon McWIlliam (Scot) -6 69 69 138
T7 Paula Grant (Lisburn) -2 74 68 142
T16 Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) +3 78 69 147
T16 Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden) +3 76 71 147
T16 Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe) +3 75 72 147
T27 Meadhbh Doyle (Portarlington) +5 77 72 149
T49 Valerie Clancy (Killarney) +8 74 78 152
T60 Ciara Casey (Hermitage) +10 78 76 154
MC Kate Dwyer (Rossmore) +14 79 79 158
MC Sara Byrne (Douglas) +15 79 80 159
MC Lucy Simpson (Massereene) +16 82 78 160
MC Emma Forbes (Royal Portrush) +21 82 83 165
RTD Maura Diamond (Royal Portrush) +17 85 85
