The Irish start strongly but the Swedes are chasing at Roganstown
 NEWS RELEASE
The Irish girls' U18 open stroke-play championship began at Roganstown Golf and Country Club today (Friday). The Championship will be played over 54 holes – 18 holes today and again on Saturday with the top 50 players plus ties progressing to the final 18 holes on Sunday.
An international field of 104 players representing 15 countries teed off this morning in a bid to become 2017 Irish Girls Open Stroke Play Champion. Current world number 1 amateur Leona Maguire captured the inaugural title in 2012 on the Christy O’Connor Junior- designed course.
Valerie Clancy (Killarney) got off to a fast start, carding birdies at the 2nd, 4th and 7th. She dropped two shots at the 8th and 14th before coolly birdieing the par 5 18th to finish on two-under-par 69.
“I don’t feel like I played my absolute best today,” remarked Clancy while signing her scorecard. “The birdies I made I just hit it very close but I also had to get up and down a few times to keep my score going.”
The highest world ranked player in the field, Annabel Wilson (Lurgan), managed five birdies in her opening round, three of which came in her closing four holes. She also signed for a 2 under par 69 which left her tied for the lead after Round 1.
Fifteen-year-old Wilson has claimed two Irish Girls' Close Championship titles thus far in her young career and an Irish Girls Open title may now be in her sights.
With 21 Swedish players competing this year at Roganstown – the largest international representation in the field – it was no surprise to see the blue and yellow flag near the top of the leaderboard. Ingrid Lindblad finished at level par to leave her just two shots behind the Irish duo of Wilson and Clancy.
 One shot further back Sara Ericsson, Matilda Cederholm and Ester Fägersten, all from Sweden, are tied for 4th heading into the second 18 tomorrow.
For all Championship information please follow this link: Irish Girls U18 Open Strokeplay Championship.

Round 2 DRAWSHEET can be found HERE

 ALL THE ROUND 1 SCORES  can be found HERE






Jillian Farrell leading Scot after a 75

LEADERBOARD
par 71
69 Annabel Wilson (Lurgan), Valerie Clancy (Killarney).
71 Ingrid Lindblad (Swe)


SCOTS' SCORES

75 Jillian Farrell (Cardross) (T17)

76 Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead), Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) (T26).
77 Lorna McClymont (Milngavie) (T34)
78 Molly Richmond (Strathaven),  Hannah Darling (Broomieknowe) (T44)
80 Kirsty Brodie (Strathmore), Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne), Porscha Wilson (Burntisland)  (T57).


Field of 104 competitors