Coughlan tops with seven shots to spare

ACE Cork golfer Claire Coughlan had a commanding seven strokes to spare as she added the Suzuki Irish Ladies Strokeplay Championship to her titles tally at Rathsallagh yesterday.

The event was decided over 54 holes, and 23-year-old Coughlan streaked clear of a top-class field with a superb four under par 69 in the second round.

She had opened with a one under 71, and the margin went to five after round two as the rest of the field struggled to stay in contact.

“I played really well and am very happy with my game. The key to that middle round was a run of four birdies in a row from the 13th,” said the Cork GC player. That birdie blitz saw Coughlan hole from ten feet at the 13th, while a sand iron ended a foot from the flag at the next, a ten-footer went in at 15, and she got up and down to beat par as well at the 16th.

“I closed with a 74 yesterday,” said Coughlan, “and I am delighted with my form in advance of next week’s inter provincial campaign in Galway.”

Maura Morrin gained the silver medal while her Curragh teammate Sinead Keane finished third.