Paula Grant leads stroke play qualifiers on six-under-par
Cut for top 64 players set at seven-over-par
Paula Grant produced a fine three-under-par round of 68
to her opening round of 71 to lead the qualifiers for the matchplay stage of the
114th Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship at Pyle & Kenfig in south Wales.
Five of the 10 Irish entrants made the cut with world No 1 Leona Maguire, Olivia Mehaffey, Mairead Martin and Chloe Ryan also making the top 64.
Grant, who won the Irish Women’s Close Championship at Ballybunion in 2013, recovered from two dropped shots early on to card two birdies and a superb eagle three on the fifth hole before reaching the turn.
Three further birdies on the back nine ensured that Grant signed off for a round of 68, topping the leaderboard on a four-under-par total of 138, finishing one ahead of Germany’s Laura Funfstuck, Mathilde Claisse of France and Sweden’s Linn Grant
“I wasn’t really going out there expecting to be leading after finishing the round so it was nice to come off there and be at the top”, said Grant. “I putted quite well today and holed a few nice putts to keep the momentum going when I was under pressure. The eagle on the fifth really kickstarted the round.
“I want to see how far I can go in the match play. I feel confident and anything can happen when it’s match play. It’s good to shoot a couple of good scores going into the match play. I’ve started being a bit more aggressive in stroke play so I wouldn’t hope to change a whole lot going into the match play. I’m trying to stick to the game plan and go for it.”
Leona Maguire, the leading women’s player according to the WORLD AMATEUR GOLF RANKING™, finished level par.
MATCHPLAY SCORING
Paula Grant vs. Cecilie Finne-Ipsen (Denmark)
Olivia Mehaffey vs. Chloe Goadby (Scotland)
Mairead Martin vs. Ariane Klotz (France)
Leona Maguire vs. Elena Hualde Zuinga (Spain)
Chloe Ryan vs. Amanda Linner (Sweden)
Irish Qualifying Scores
1 138 Paula Grant (70, 68)
8 142 Leona Maguire (70, 72)
16 144 Olivia Mehaffey (71, 73)
17 145 Mairead Martin (71, 74)
29 147 Chloe Ryan (75, 72)
MC 152 Maria Dunne (69, 83)
MC 155 Lisa Maguire (73, 82)
MC 155 Ciara Casey (73, 82)
MC 159 Sinead Sexton (86, 73)
MC 163 Valerie Clancy (87, 76)
