Irish women struggle at lengthened Scarlet Course

Carlow sisters Tara and Karen Delaney found the going tough in the rarefied atmosphere of the US national collegiate finals as the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship headed into its final day today.

The siblings, both on the women’s golf team at Kent State University in Ohio, had gone into the end of season, 24-team championships with high hopes after helping the Golden Flashes into the finals with strong performances, particularly form younger sister Tara (aged 20).

They began playing the Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday but will already be cursing Jack Nicklaus, who redesigned the layout in a recent US$4.2m (€3.29m) facelift.

The course was lengthened to 6,203 yards, playing at a par 72, and features steep-faced bunkers and resurfaced greens.

Karen Delaney (aged 21), opened with a 13-over-par 85 before recovering with each round, carding a second-day, nine-over 81 and a third-round eight-over 80 to occupy a tie for 122nd spot heading into to today’s final round.

Her younger sister, however, had started steadily with back-to-back 76s before a nightmare third round yesterday, compiling one birdie, six bogeys, two double bogeys and a horror-show quadruple bogey nine at the par-five fourth.

The round of 85 sent Tara Delaney free-falling back to 102nd spot, although there will still be plenty to play for as the team overall moved up through the field to 21st spot.

Kent State will start the final at +59, 47 strokes behind leaders Duke University. And while victory is out of their grasp, a resurgent round from each of the Delaneys could restore a little damaged pride and help the Golden Flashes improve their overall position.

While the two Irishwomen plot their exit strategies, Irish male trio Cian McNamara, Gareth Shaw and Niall Turner will be making their final preparations for next week’s NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship in Oregon.

Shaw, from Lisburn, and Limerick’s McNamara helped East Tennessee State University to their first NCAA finals since 2001 and form part of a college quintet all drawn from Britain and Ireland.

Cork's Turner, meanwhile, will be representing the University of Minnesota at the Crosswater Golf Club at the Sunriver Resort in the Pacific Mountain state, beginning next Tuesday until June 3.