Defending champion Gertie McMullen of The Island holds a three-stroke lead over Finland’s Minna Kaarnalahti going into Friday's final round of the Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay at Dundalk.

McMullen’s 76 in Thursday’s second round was best of the day as the greens gathered pace in the warm and sunny conditions. 

Kaarnalahti, the 2011 and 2012 champion, lies three strokes further back after a 78 today with 2012 Close champion Suzanne Corcoran from Portumna a further two strokes adrift after her 78.

Local favourite Ita Donnelly (Dundalk) continues to shine in this illustrious field and lies joint fourth after an 82 today.

Competitors play a final 18 holes on Friday with the Champion being crowned around 3pm later tomorrow afternoon. 

Ireland A leads the Nations Cup followed by Ireland B, Canada and the USA.

Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay, Dundalk (Par 73, SSS 74 CSS 74 74)

After 36 holes

150 Gertie McMullen (The Island) 74 76

153 Minna Kaarnalahti (FIN) 75 78

155 Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna) 77 78

157 Alison Murdoch (CAN) 78 79 Ita Donnelly (Dundalk) 75 82

158 Mary Dowling (Mallow) 77 81 Catherine Reilly (The Heath) 74 84

159 Kate Evans (RCD Ladies) 82 77 Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) 77 82

160 Pat Doran (Donabate) 80 80 Helen Jones (Royal Portrush) 80 80 Gabi Heuchel (ENG) 77 83

161 Mary MacLaren (Royal Portrush) 80 81

164 Anne Ferguson (Ogbourne Downs) 83 81

165 Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast) 84 81 Becky Neal (USA) 83 82

166 Leslie Olive Henry (USA) 86 80 Georgia McCravey (USA) 82 84

167 Kay McCartan (Greenore) 83 84 Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) 80 87

168 Valerie Hassett (Ennis) 88 80 Wanda Mochtar (NED) 87 81 Mary McGoey (Greenore) 86 82 Diane Williams (CAN) 83 85

169 Gill Rouiller (Mannan Castle) 83 86 Nancy Beck (USA) 82 87

170 Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) 86 84 Paula Murray (Naas) 85 85

171 Ann McAuley (Laytown & Bettystown) 91 80 Evelyn Blackmon (USA) 84 87

172 Manja Reef (NED) 87 85 Pauline Walsh (Headfort) 83 89

173 Judy Collins (CAN) 89 84

174 Linda Evers (USA) 90 84

175 Mary Feenan (CAN) 88 87

176 Pamela Williamson (SCO) 93 83 Valerie Shannon (Lahinch) 89 87

177 Elizabeth Neville (Bearna) 93 84

179 Patricia Black (Headfort) 94 85 Joan Curran (Laytown & Bettystown) 87 92

181 Let Hagels (NED) 87 94

182 Helen Thornton (Ardee) 94 88 Ada Vrolijk (NED) 91 91

189 Nancy Jackson (USA) 98 91

WD Grainne O'Connor (Skerries) 89 85

DQ Sheena McElroy (Grange) 76 DSQ

NATIONS CUP (2 scores from 3 to count each round)

306 IRELAND A Pat Doran [80] 80 Sheena McElroy 76 DSQ Gertie McMullen 74 76

312 IRELAND B Suzanne Corcoran 77 78 Mary Dowling 77 [81] Helen Jones [80] 80

325 CANADA A Alison Murdoch 78 79 Diane Williams 83 85

327 USA A Nancy Beck 82 [87] Leslie Olive Henry [86] 80 Becky Neal 83 82

334 USA B Evelyn Blackmon 84 [87] Linda Evers [90] 84 Georgia McCravey 82 84

348 CANADA B Judy Collins 89 84 Mary Feenan 88 87

349 NETHERLANDS A Iet Hagels 87 94 Wanda Mochtar 87 81

354 NETHERLANDS B Manja Reef 87 85 Ada Vrolijk 91 91

Tee-times, Friday, 12 December

1. 08:30 Ada Vrolijk (NED) Nancy Jackson (USA)
2. 08:40 Joan Curran (Laytown & Bettystown) Iet Hagels (NED) Helen Thornton (Ardee)
3. 08:50 Valerie Shannon (Lahinch) Elizabeth Neville (Bearna) Patricia Black (Headfort)
4. 09:00 Linda Evers (USA) Mary Feenan (CAN) Pamela Williamson (SCO)
5. 09:10 Manja Reef (NED) Pauline Walsh (Headfort) Judy Collins (CAN)
6. 09:20 Ann McAuley (Laytown & Bettystown) Paula Murray (Naas) Evelyn Blackmon (USA)
7. 09:30 Gill Rouiller (Mannan Castle) Nancy Beck (USA) Vivienne Houston (City of Derry)
8. 09:40 Wanda Mochtar (NED) Mary McGoey (Greenore) Diane Williams (CAN)
9. 10:00 Kay McCartan (Greenore) Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) Valerie Hassett (Ennis) 
10. 10:10 Becky Neal (USA) Leslie Olive Henry (USA) Georgia McCravey (USA)
11. 10:20 Mary MacLaren (Royal Portrush) Anne Ferguson (Ogbourne Downs) Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast)
12. 10:30 Pat Doran (Donabate) Helen Jones (Royal Portrush) Gabi Heuchel (ENG)
13. 10:40 Catherine Reilly (The Heath) Kate Evans (RCD Ladies) Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire)
14. 10:50 Alison Murdoch (CAN) Ita Donnelly (Dundalk) Mary Dowling (Mallow)
15. 11:00 Gertie McMullen (The Island) Minna Kaarnalahti (FIN) Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna)