THE shifting nature of the women's game, and the emergence of a new generation of players, was adequately emphasised in the Leinster Championship, sponsored by MacGregor, at Seapoint Golf Club yesterday where Hazel Kavanagh, Suzanne Fanagan, Sinead Keane and Elaine Dowdall made it to the last four.
Indeed, the arrival of a stiff south-westerly wind ensured a tough test for the protagonists; however, Mother Nature's influence didn't unduly hamper the progress of a quartet of players who, come international selection later in the season, will be very much to the forefront of the selectors' minds.
The wind was the key factor in yesterday's matchplay rounds, although the unfortunate Denise McCarthy was forced to retire, after just five holes of her morning encounter with Dowdall due to a recurrence of an achilles tendon injury and didn't have to endure its buffeting effects as much as others.
Kavanagh, the leading qualifier, confirmed her current form with two comfortable wins - over Lorna Browne by 3 and 2 and Patricia Nannery by 5 and 4 - to set up a rather intriguing semi-final showdown with her Irish team-mate Fanagan, the defending champion.
As if to highlight the manner in which the wind changed the way the course played yesterday, compared to Tuesday's qualifying rounds, Kavanagh required a drive three wood and, wedge to reach the 400 yard par five second hole which only required a drive and seven iron the previous day. Still, Kavanagh ensured her passage, into the semi-finals by establishing a four hole lead after seven holes against Nannery and was a commendable one under par for the front nine.
Fanagan was an estimated two over par for the 14, holes required to overcome Wickham in her quarter final. The course was a lot tougher with the wind not just playing in to it but most of the par threes seemed to be downwind and it was hard to hold the greens, she observed. The Milltown player was two up, at the turn and proceeded to win the 10th, 11th and 13th before closing out the match on the 14th for a 5 and 4 success.
Some winter tuition from Brendan McDaid has reaped dividends for Irish panellist Keane, who eventually got the better of a tough match with Oonagh Purfield. Keane, winner of the Connacht Championship last year, was two up after 11 holes but three putted the 14th, and then lost the 15th after her wind-assisted tee-shot went through the back of the green. However, she retained her composure to win the next two holes with pars for a 2 and 1 win over the Co Louth player who, two weeks ago, had her arm in plaster because of tendonitis.
Meanwhile, Wexford's Dowdall played the least number of holes yesterday. Her first round match finished after five holes when McCarthy retired injured (although she used her "free time" to play four practice holes on the back nine) and the 19-year-old, competing in the event for the first time, beat Carlow RTC student Maura Morrin, another promising player, by 4 and 3 in the quarter-final to set up a semi-final meeting Keane.
