Ireland struggle to make an impact

Women's World Team Championship: Ireland found the Stellenbosch course in South Africa a tough proposition in the first round of the world women's team championship yesterday.

Despite the fact their three players were all members of the Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup team that competed in the United States in the summer, they could only post a total of 151 - seven over par - with two cards counting.

That means they go into round two this morning in 26th place, some 14 strokes adrift of the early pacemakers, Japan, who top the leaderboard by two from the reigning champions, Sweden, the host nation, South Africa, and Chinese Taipei.

Beaverstown's Martina Gillen was the best of the Irish trio, returning a two-over-par 74 - but she flattered to deceive, having been one under at the turn.

The 24-year-old birdied the second hole to go under par and then parred all the way to the turn to cover the outward half in 35. But she slipped up disappointingly on her way home, double-bogeying the 11th and short 15th. Back-to-back birdies at 16 and 17 helped retrieve the situation a little, but she dropped a stroke at the last.

Irish champion Tricia Mangan bogeyed two of the first three holes and dropped a stroke at the ninth on her way to the turn in 39. Her homeward half was a topsy-turvy affair that included a double bogey, two bogeys and two birdies.

Claire Coughlan's poor form continued as she recorded three sixes and had halves of 40 and 41.

Irish captain Lillian Starrett was naturally disappointed, but not too downhearted.

"There's a long way to go and a lot of water will go under the bridge before Saturday evening," she said.

WOMEN'S WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (at Stellenbosch, South Africa) - Leading first-round scores: 137 - Japan; 139 - Sweden, South Africa, Chinese Taipei; 141 - Germany; 142 - Canada; 143 - Australia; 144 - USA; 145 - Korea, Spain, England (S Walker 72, K Smith 73, M Reid 75 discounted). Other scores: 150 - Wales (S Hassan 73, B Loucks 77, T Davies 78 discounted); 151 - Ireland (M Gillen 74, T Mangan 77, C Coughlan 81 discounted); 153 - Scotland (H Macrae 76, K Caithness 77, J Wilson 77 discounted).