Tegan Gordon qualifies for matchplay at Mallow

Tegan Gordon from the Laytown & Bettystown made the cut today at the Irish Girls Close Golf Championship when she made it into the last 32 of the pprestigious competition that features the top 52 players' in the country.

The action was intense from early this morning over the par 72 Mallow course and Tegan qualified comfortable for tomorrow's knock-out matchplay at the Munster venue. 

Rounds of 79 and 85 saw her finish 27th in the day one rankings and she will face Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) tomorrow at 11.20am. Cummins is the Ulster Girls champion and is fancied as a potential overall winner of the title.

Following today's qualifying rounds, the top 32 players progress to the knock-out matchplay. Following the first round, the beaten players will then compete in the Plate, both of which will conclude on Saturday afternoon.

After a short rain delay this morning, play got underway. Five of the six who represented Ireland at the Girls' European Team Championships last week in Finland were home to compete for the prestigious Blake Cup and to be named Irish Girls' Champion.

Kate Lanigan (Hermitage) and Rachel Thompson (Cork) led the way after round one with scores of 71 (-1). 

While Lanigan slipped to +1, Thompson followed up with an exceptional second round 69 in difficult wet and windy conditions to lead the qualifiers and win Muwick Cup on four under par, five shots clear of next best Valerie Clancy (Killarney). 

Eagles at the 10th and 11th, one of which resulted from a 200-yard four iron and a tap in putt, as well as two birdies and three bogeys saw Thompson post the round of the day and she is in pole position heading into tomorrow's matchplay stages.

THURSDAY SCHEDULE

09:00 Rachel Thompson (Cork) vs. Olivia McClurg (Belvoir Park)

09:10 Emma Forbes (Royal Portrush) vs. Nicole McGavisk (Donabate)

09:20 Georgia Carr (Milltown) vs. Katie Keenan (Kilkenny)

09:30 Anna Foster (Elm Park) vs. Niamh O'Dwyer (Lahinch)

09:40 Kate Lanigan (Hermitage) vs. Emily Walsh (Limerick)

09:50 Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo) vs. Chloe O'Connor (Roscommon)

10:00 Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) vs. Fiona Behan (Killeen)

10:10 Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle) vs. Sara Byrne (Douglas)

10:20 Valerie Clancy (Killarney) vs. Shannon Hegarty (Ennis)

10:30 Kate Dwyer (Rossmore) vs. Leah Temple Lang (Elm Park)

10:40 Katie O'Hart (Arklow) vs. Canice Screen (Hermitage)

10:50 Ellen O'Gorman (Milltown) vs. Anna Dawson (Tramore)

11:00 Mairead Martin (Kanturk) vs. Kaelin O'Keeffe (Tralee)

11:10 Ada Bowler (Lucan) vs. Jan Browne (Kilkenny)

11:20 Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) vs. Tegan Gordon (Laytown & Bettystown)

11:30 Nicole Joyce Moreno (Spain) vs. Anna McVicker (Belvoir Park)