The beautiful rolling hills and magnificent lake views of Glasson Golf Club in Athlone provided an idyllic backdrop to the Mitsubishi Motors/The Irish Times Ladies Masters Regional Final last Thursday. While a blanket of fog hampered the early starters, it had lifted by the time most of them had reached the back nine.
The tournament, in its second year, once again highlighted the quality of golf that permeates the ladies club scene in this country. The top 120 players - competitors had to pre-qualify in their own clubs - were vying for 21 places available in the Mitsubishi Motors/The Irish Times Ladies Masters Grand Final at Mount Juliet on September 8th.
Qualifying was divided into regional slots with seven places available from each of Leinster, Munster and Connacht. The standard of scoring over the 5606-yard Christy O'Connor Jnr designed course was excellent, a fact exemplified by the overall winner, Ballykisteen's Fionagh Ryan who amassed 43 points off a 28 handicap.
Indeed her club enjoyed the distinction of providing not only the winner of the Glasson event but also the leading qualifier for last Thursday's event, Majella Hallinan (49pts). It should be noted that Ryan was among the early starters at 7.30 a.m..
"We played the first eight holes in the fog and it wasn't until about 10.10 a.m. that it began to lift." Ryan conceded that the practice round which she enjoyed the previous Sunday over the Glasson course was hugely beneficial in preparation for the diminished visibility. "I knew where I was going and that was a big factor." Ryan has only recently returned to golf having previously been a junior member in Limerick golf club. Starting the year off 33 she reduced her handicap to 28, the maximum permitted under the rules of this tournament. She managed six bogeys en route to an excellent 20 points on the front nine but the journey home was to prove even more rewarding.
A par at the 11th where she hit a five iron and two putted, another at the 12th and a seven iron and two-putt par on the signature 15th underpinned an excellent 23 points on the back nine. She was especially pleased with her par on the 15th as it was achieved in front of Christy O'Connor Snr. Ryan was followed home by Killiney's Pat Waldron on 40 points and Rita Mulvihill of Fermoy on 39.
Those who qualified for Mount Juliet required 35 points or better and special mention is warranted in the case of North West six-handicapper Julie Bradley who managed 37 points. Ryan will be hoping to emulate last year's champion Jean Carter who led the qualifiers at Glasson and went on to triumphed in the Grand Final at Killarney.
