Austria’s Isabella Holpfer defeats Castletroy’s Chloe Ryan to win Irish Women’s Open Strokeplay title

Dún Laoghaire Golf Club, home to the 2016 39th Curtis Cup Match was host to impressive golf over the course of the weekend for the Irish Women's Open Strokeplay Championship.

The players were greeted with dry and cool conditions as the top 40 plus ties took to the championship course.

Players were battling for a top finish in view of Irish Girls and Ladies European Team announcements next week.

The course lived up to all expectations as superb playing conditions and fast greens ensured an exciting challenge for all.

The overnight leaders, Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) and Isabella Holpfer (Austria) were inseparable on the front nine as they both made the turn in 37 shots. The back nine proved to be a different story as both players suffered bogeys on the home stretch.

However, a focused Holpfer did just enough with a final round 78 to card an overall total of 221.

Castletroy's Chloe Ryan also finished on 221 after showing her determination to shoot a 75 and force a sudden death playoff with the Austrian. Holpfer emerged stronger in the end after carding a par four on the first playoff hole to be crowned champion.

Several other Irish players also proved their golfing abilities this weekend as Niamh McSherry (Lurgan), Olivia Mehaffey (RCDL), Annabel Wilson (Lurgan), Jessica Ross (Donaghadee) and Louise Coffey (Malone) all secured top 10 finishes. The Nations Cup was retained by Ireland's Olivia Mehaffey (RCDL), Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) and Maria Dunne (Skerries) on a total score of 444.