Irish women eye Solheim Cup spots

IRELAND’s top women golfers are launching their bids to make the European team for the 2011 Solheim Cup clash with the USA.

Killeen Castle in Meath hosts the showpiece biennial event — the female equivalent of the Ryder Cup — and European Tour trio Rebecca Coakley, Tara Delaney and Hazel Kavanagh are desperate to ensure a strong Irish presence in the team.

And the signs are positive with the three finishing inside the top 15 of last week’s Randstad Open de France Dames. Coakley, who had entered the final round two shots off the pace, managed a season-best share of seventh while Delaney and Kavanagh finished together in a tie for 15th on five under par.