Women's golf

Irish Women's Open lands 3 sponsorship

Irish Open sponsors 3 will back the Irish Women’s Open Strokeplay Championship this year - as a payback for stealing their Irish Close venue.

The mobile  telecommunications giant has already agreed to sponsor the European Tour's Irish Open for the next three years in a deal to be announced at the end of the month.

Tummy trouble floors Coffey

Tummy trouble floored star player Alison Coffey as Ireland's Ladies' Home International hopes went down in flames in Carlow yesterday.

Eavan Higgins' warriors were beaten 5 1/2 ­ 3 1/2 by champions England as Coffey was forced to pull out of the afternoon singles complaining of stomach cramps and nausea.