McVeigh still in medal mix

DANIELLE McVEIGH faces a mammoth task over the next two days to lift the European Ladies Amateur Team title at Falsterbo in Sweden — but she is still very much in contention for a medal.

The 21-year-old returned a second successive four over par 75 yesterday for a 54-hole aggregate of 220 — and she lies just outside the medal positions in joint fourth spot.

Swedish ace Caroline Hedwall spread-eagled the field with a sensational five under par 66, the lowest score of the week — and she swept into a five stroke advantage with just one round remaining.

Vagliano Trophy player McVeigh was steady on the way out taking 35 which comprised two bogeys, one birdie and six pars. A couple of sixes on the way home was her undoing — and she added a 40 to the outward 35.

But with only three players in front of her a medal is certainly on the cards. The other three Irish competitors are well down the field. Charlene Reid and Sarah Cunningham are both on 243 after rounds of 84 and 81 respectively yesterday while Carlow’s Aedin Power after an 86 languishes near the tail of the field on 253.

Meanwhile, in the Total international U21 girls championship in Belgium, Warrenpoint’s Louise Coffey moved up the field in the third round yesterday as she returned a 74 for a 54-hole total of 228- she is in 11th place.

Louise Mernagh of Woodenbridge had something of a nightmare yesterday and could do no better than 84 for 236 and is in 24th place. But both Irish players qualified for today’s final round.

Italian Marianne Causin continues to lead the field on 216,one stroke ahead of Scotland’s Kelsey MacDonald. And in the Jacques Leglise Trophy match at Ganton, Yorkshire Ireland’s Paul Dunne captaining the Great Britain and Ireland side made a successful debut debut beating highly-rated German Maximillan Roehrig on the last green in the singles.

Dunne from Greystones lost his foursomes match in partnership with Scotland’s Paul Shields. At the halfway stage Great Britain and Ireland lead the Continent of Europe by a narrow 6.5-5.5 margin.