Final hole birdie ensures another Irish Strokeplay title for Delaney

CARLOW’S Tara Delaney successfully defended her Irish Open Strokeplay title with a birdie on the 54th hole at Hermitage Golf Club yesterday.

Leading by four strokes overnight from Scotland’s Kylie Walker, Delaney birdied six and eight to remain four under through nine holes.

However, a dragged seven iron finished in the River Liffey at the par three10th and Delaney carded a double bogey five.

Walker levelled matters when Delaney double-bogeyed 16 but the champion restored a slender one shot lead when the Scot bogeyed 17. Delaney put the matter beyond doubt when she hit her seven iron approach to one foot at the last.

The Parkland course once again proved difficult as gusts picked up during the afternoon. Maura Morrin’s closing 72 pipped Walker into joint second while Ireland’s team of Tara Delaney, Heather Nolan and Deirdre Smith won the International team award.