Anna Dawson carded an amazing 16 birdies and one match winning eagle as the Tramore golfer came through two tightly contested matches to book her place in the semi-finals of the AIG Irish Women’s Amateur Close Championship at Adree Golf Club tomorrow morning.
Having come through Stroke Play qualifying right on the cut line on Wednesday afternoon, Dawson would take on Katie Poots (Knock) in the top match on Thursday morning in what would turn out to be a fascinating contest.
The pair traded holes for much of the match before the tie would be decided on the 20th hole with Dawson carding her 10th and the matches 17th birdie overall.
“It was a crazy match; we were holing putts like there was no tomorrow,” said Dawson
“It was one up one down the whole way this morning so lucky I finished it on 20.”
Buoyed by her performance in the morning session, Dawson carried the momentum of the early battle in her quarter final tie versus Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe), carding six more birdies before closing out the match with a sensational eagle on the par five 17th.
“It was very close the whole way with Shannon, bridies were definitely winning it,” said Dawson.
“We halved so many holes in pars too. It was nice to finish off the match with an eagle there on 17.”
Fellow Irish International Zoe McLean-Tattan awaits Dawson in the first of tomorrow’s semi-finals. The Romford star came through her last 16 tie against Libby Fleming (El Camino Country Club) 3&2 before a dominant back nine display against Kate Dwyer (Rossmore) in the quarter final saw the Irish Girls’ Amateur Open Champion through to the final day.
Holly Hamilton (Belvoir Park) and Ellen O’Shaughnessy (Co.Louth) are set to face off in the bottom match tomorrow morning.
Hamilton impressed in her opening match of the day beating Kate Dillon (Oughterard) 6&4 before coming through a tight affair against Anna Abom (Edmondstown) 2&1 while O’Shaughnessy was not pushed past the 14th hole in either of her matches as the County Louth golfer took comprehensive victories, 5&4 over Ella Cantwell (Esker Hills) and 7&6 over Molly O’Hara.
Molly Campbell (Hollinwell) will face Alexandra Kearney (Stackstown) in the first of the AIG Irish Girls’ Amateur Close Plate semi-finals. Gemma McMeekin (Royal Portrush) will play Eva Branks (Malone) in the other final four tie.
Mairead Martin (Kanturk) will play defending champion Clodagh Coughlan (Douglas) in the semi-finals of the AIG Irish Women’s Amateur Close Plate, with Laura Webb (Royal Portrush) taking on Seána McGuinness (Greenore)
Meanwhile, Brendan Lawlor made the most of his home course knowledge as the Ardee native carded an opening round of 70 to take a sizeable lead in the ISPS Handa G4D at Ardee.
The G4D Open Champion birdied four and five before a bogey on seven meant he went out in 34 however the Carton House golfer bounced back with another birdie on 14 but a bogey on 15 ensured he finished one under for his round.
Lawlor is clear of Cian Arthurs (Roganstown) on +6 and Fiona Gray (St Patricks Downpatrick) eight shots further in arrears.
