Girls' championship attracts top talent

The Irish Ladies' Golf Union (ILGU) and Lancôme have attracted the cream of ladies golf to compete in two major competitions in the ladies' golf calendar in Galway next week.

Sixty-four girls, all under eighteen years of age, have entered the Lancôme Irish Girls' Close Championship which will take place in Athenry next Tuesday to Friday.

A further 20 competitors will compete in the Lancôme Irish Intermediate Close Championship at Athenry Golf Club from July 16-18.

The current Close Champion, Dawn Marie Conaty of Ashbourne, Co Meath, will face some stiff competition for the biggest field ever recorded for the Lancôme Irish Girls' Close Cchampionship.

ILGU secretary Teresa Thompson, said some of the biggest names in Irish amateur golf are returning from international competition to take part in the event.

"Heather Nolan from Shannon, who was runner-up in the event last year, and Amy Duggan from Killarney have arranged to head straight for Athenry on their return from the European Team Championships in Moscow."

The two youngest contenders in the under-18s are certainly under eighteen years of age. Victoria Bradshaw from Bangor, who just turned 12 on July 3, years of age on 3rd July 2002 and Alisa Theunis of Chateau de Preisch in France who is aged 11, doesn't turn 12 until 18th September 2002, turning 12 in September.