ELAINE DOWDALL celebrated a memorable 48 hours by leading the qualifiers with a superb level par 75 in the opening round of the Lancome Irish Ladies Close Championships at The European Club. The 24 year old Wexford golfer, an Arts Student at UCD, received the results of her finals on Tuesday lunch-time and was delighted to earn a 2:1 in English and Sociology.
In the second match out, Dowdall turned n three over par, 40, suffering bogeys at the first, fifth and seventh. "I hit a nine iron into the bunker at the first and failed to get up and down. I had three putts at the fifth and on the seventh, I hit a poor tee shot." The catalyst for an improvement in fortune was the 11th hole.
Dowdall hit a four iron second shot left and short but managed a fine up and down for par. She birdied the par five, 12th, holding from 10 feet and at the 14th, enjoyed another birdie; she hit a nine iron to 10 feet and sank the putt. She produced a fine finish to a brilliant back nine with birdie on the par, 18th: a three wood, five iron and two putts allowing her to return in three under the card.
"I'm very pleased with the round because it was tough out there with the strong breeze which was particularly noticeable down by the sea-shore. The course is in brilliant condition and the greens are excellent, very true." Dowdall was disappointed to miss out on selection for the Ireland team for the upcoming European Amateur Championships - she's first reserve - and is keen to show the selectors the error of their ways. Eileen Rose Power may have enjoyed a curtailed schedule this season but she displayed a few signs of rustiness in a one over par, 76. She was joined on that mark by Tricia Managan.
Martina Gillen, who is on a scholarship to Kent State University in the Unites States, was one shot further back while defending champion and Leitrim Cup holder Alison Coffey recorded an eventful 78 that included a quadruple bogey seven at the par three, second.
Her tee shot came to rest in a front bunker from which she took three to extricate herself and then three putted. She responded in champion style with birdies at the next two holes and would eventually dip under the card five times in all. "I felt a bit lethargic at the start but gradually got going."
Coffey only played nine holes practice on the Tuesday and that was with a borrowed set after her clubs never made the flight from a Britain and Ireland training session and had to be sent by courier to the venue.
