Golf:Ireland maintained their position at the top of the leaderboard to qualify in first place at the European Girls Team championship in Kokkola, Finland today.
Having led after the first day, Cavan twins, Lisa and Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell), Laura McCarthy (Muskerry) and Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush), recorded a second day total of 218, improving on their opening day aggregate by three shots.
Their 439 aggregate left the Irish team three shots ahead of their nearest rivals Spain in second (442) with hosts Finland third (443).
Leona really kicked into gear this afternoon and her five-under-par 67 was the team’s best score of the day. The French under-21 and Scottish Strokeplay champion carded no less than six birdies and just one bogey.
Sister Lisa followed with a solid two-over par 74, while Meadow battled hard to post 77 to secure top spot for Ireland.
“It was a fantastic team effort by all the girls, they really pulled together today, with the Maguire twins caddying for Laura and Steph once they had finished,” said team captain Sinead Keane.
“I am delighted with their performance and they are all playing fantastic golf so we are really looking forward to the start of the matchplay.”
The matchplay stages get under way tomorrow with Ireland pitted against Belgium in the quarter-finals. Two foursomes ties in the morning will be followed by three singles matches in the afternoon to determine who makes it through to Friday's semi-finals.
European Girls Team Championships - Qualifying Results (Par 72 72)
(Three scores from four to count)
439 - Ireland 221, 218
(Leona Maguire [77] 67, Lisa Maguire 72 74, Laura McCarthy 77 [82], Stephanie Meadow 72 77)
442 - Spain 222, 220
443 - Finland 224, 219
450 - England 225, 225
452 - Switzerland 234, 218, Czech Republic 227, 225, Sweden 231, 221
455 - Belgium 228, 227, France 232, 223
457 - Germany 231, 226
460 - Netherlands 226, 234, Austria 231, 229
462 - Denmark 231, 231
463 - Wales 231, 232
464 - Norway 234, 230
467 - Scotland 239, 228
475 - Italy 243, 232
485 - Greece 247, 238
503 - Latvia 247, 256
