Coughlan out of Lancome Ladies Close

Curtis Cup star Claire Coughlan (Cork) bowed out of the Lancome Ladies Close at Portsalon yesterday following a 2/1 defeat by the in-form Karen Delaney (Carlow).

Trailing by one hole playing the short 15th, Coughlan missed her birdie putt to level the match. Delaney made no mistake on 16 with her approach shot into 4 feet. She went on to wrap up the match with another birdie on 17.

Sinead Keane (Curragh) having won on the 20th in the morning, went out to Catherine Tucker (Limerick) on the second tie hole.

Tricia Mangan (Ennis) always had the advantage in the all-Clare duel with fellow International Heather Nolan (Shannon) and holed from 8 feet on 16 to end the match. Currrent International Tara Delaney (Carlow) came from behind to win 17 and halve 18 in par with Marian Riordan (Tipperary). Riordan's birdie on the first extra hole saw her through to a tie with Tricia Mangan in the second semi-final today.

There will be a new name on the cup today as all four semi-finalists have never won the title.

Pat Doran (Donabate) beat Naoimh Quigg (City of Derry) to win the Ita Wallace Plate, which she also won at Murvagh in 2003.