Lancome Irish Ladies Close Championship: Tricia Mangan of Ennis remains on course to defend her title after a 2 and 1 victory over Co Louth's Jenny Gannon in yesterday's quarter-finals of the Lancome Irish Ladies Close Championship at The European Club, Co Wicklow.
Mangan turned one up, with never more than a hole separating the pair, until Gannon blocked her tee-shot off 17 and failed to reach the green before conceding the match.
Deirdre Smith (Co Louth) started her match brightly and was three up after nine, but saw her lead cut to one hole after 14 when Daragh McGowan of Ballybofey birdied the 12th and 13th. Both registered pars through to 16, and when McGowan found trouble on the left on 17 Smith marched into her second semi-final in three years. Smith faces Mangan at 9am today.
Martina Gillen (Beaverstown) added to her impressive victory over Claire Coughlan (Cork) in the morning by defeating ever-improving Maria Dunne (Skerries) on the home green.
And Girls Champion Danielle McVeigh of Royal County Down was in devastating form to finish her encounter with Bangor's Victoria Bradshaw on the 12th.
