Oughterard golfer Kate Dillon said the aim for the first two days was just to make the match play as she registered a scintillating 65 to claim the AIG Irish Girls’ Amateur Close Stroke Play Championship.
Her round matched that set by Anna Dawson (Tramore) yesterday as both players turned their attentions to the knockout stages for the AIG Irish Women’s Amateur Close Championship.
Following up on her -8 opener, Dawson was steady throughout and five birdies helped her to a -13 total and three shot lead over Dillon after 36 holes in Roscommon.
But Dillon had the low round of the day and her remarkable sequence of seven straight birdies between the seventh and 13th holes, sealed another famous round before the knockout stages.
“That’s all I was looking for, top 12, so I’m delighted with that. A good run of birdies in the middle there so I’m very happy,” said Dillon.
“The first, I hit it in to just a few inches so that was a good start then just kept it steady and then the run of birdies came out of nowhere. I didn’t sink very long putts, so I hit the irons in very close and then finished them off. I played very well so I’m happy enough.
“It’s a completely different game tomorrow, and I’m not great at match play so we have to see how it goes but if I just treat it like I did today I should have no problem.”
Dawson began today with a five-shot lead over the rest of the field and she parred the first four holes before she landed three birdies to go out in 34. She was a couple of feet away from a hole-in-one on 12 and another birdie on 15 helped her finish top qualifier.
Meanwhile, Dillon made her move around the turn and she was followed by Canice Screene (Croham Hurst) who shot 69 to finish up on -7.
Rebekah Gardner (Clandeboye) was two shots further in arrears as she accounted for a round of 70 and Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe) rounded up the top five on -4.
Molly O’Hara (Clandeboye), Katie Poots (Knock), Anna Abom (Edmondstown), Emma O’Driscoll (Ballybunion), Olivia Costello (Roscommon), Kayleigh Mulholland (Moyola Park) and Maebh McLoughlin (County Sligo) also finished in the top 12.
They will be joined in the Round 1 of the match play by Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle), Aideen Walsh (Lahinch), Emma Fleming (Elm Park) and Kate Lanigan (Hermitage).
However Dawson went through as the leading qualifier and she will be another one of the main contenders to claim the title won by Sara Byrne in Connemara last year.
“It was solid out there, it was great. Another great round today with Emma (O’Driscoll) and Shannon (Burke), just hitting the ball nicely and keeping mistakes off the card which is the main thing,” said Dawson.
“Just keep playing simple golf. Fairway, green, two putt as much as possible and see where it takes us from there.
“We’ll see how it is tomorrow, not giving away too many tips now.”
View the match play lineup here
