Hannah McCook only two off the Irish lead despite an 81
Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey), recent winner of the Welsh women's open amateur stroke-play title, is still in with a chance of scoring an excellent double, despite an opening round of seven-over-par 81 in the Irish women's tournament at Co Louth Golf Club where the gale-force wind gusted over 50 mph at times.
She is only two shots off the lead, which is held by Curtis Cup selection Paula Grant (Lisburn) and another Irish player, Lauren Murray (Delgany).
Stirling student Chloe Goadby (St Regulus) is also in the mix with an 82.
Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) had an 84 and Gemma Batty (West Linton) an 85, none of these scores as "bad" as they might sound because of the three or even four-club wind.
In winds that gusted up to 65 km/h at one point, it is hard to believe that level par would have left you just outside the top 20 on this day last year on the same course. “That’s links golf for you” remarked one supporter.
IRISH WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP Co Louth Golf Club. Par 74. CSS 77.
79 P Grant (Lisburn), L Murray (Delgany).
80 C Royston (S Africa), J Ryan (Wales)
81 S Lamb (England), R Meekers (Netherlands), B Bjornsdottir (Iceland), H McCook (Grantown on Spey), C McGinty (England), C Gainer (England)
OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
82 C Goadby (St Regulus) (T13)
84 E Briggs (Kilmacolm) (T23)
85 G Batty (West Linton) (T27)
