Irish girls stay on course for European success in Finland

GOLF DIGEST: AMATUER: Ireland eased past Belgium 3½-1½ to earn a place in today's semi-finals of the Girls European Team Championships, in Kokkola, Finland.

The Irish girls made a perfect start against Belgium, claiming convincing wins in both morning foursomes matches. The Maguire twins, Lisa and Leona secured a comfortable 4 and 3 victory over Lauren van Gerven and Laura Christiaens while Laura McCarthy and Stephanie Meadow followed with a 6 and 4 win over Manon de Roey and Margaux Vanmol.

Ireland only required one point from the three afternoon singles matches and despite defeat for Lisa Maguire in the top match, sister Leona once again rose to the challenge and claimed victory by a margin of 4 and 2 against Vanmol. This win gave Ireland the single point required and Meadow, who led in her match at the time, was called in.

Ireland take on England in today’s semi-final while Sweden, 4-1 winners over Finland, play Spain, who beat the Czech Republic 3-2.

Having failed to make the top flight in the European Boys’ Team Championship at Golf Club De Pan in The Netherlands the Irish set about their task of winning the second grouping and securing ninth place in the rankings as their senior counterparts did last weekend at Conwy in north Wales.

Ireland made a good start by beating Norway 3-2 in their first matchplay round despite losing both foursomes.

Paul Dunne from Greystones and Garth McGee of Malone both gained highly-creditable 4 and 3 successes and when Reeve Whitsun from Mourne pulled out all the stops to edge out Mathias Schjolberg on the home green the Irish kept alive their hopes of a ninth place finish. Today they face France who yesterday put paid to Finlands hopes.

US TOUR: JJ Henry fired a flawless five-under-par 65 to claim the early clubhouse lead at the John Deere Classic at the TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois.

Out in 31 after starting with three straight birdies, Henry made the homeward journey in 34 to lead by one from Dicky Pride and Jason Day.

Andrew Ruthkoski, who won a play-off on Monday to earn one of the four final spots in the field shot 68.

WOMEN’S US OPEN: World number one Lorena Ochoa and 2007 champion Cristie Kerr shared the clubhouse lead early in yesterday’s first round of the US Women’s Open championship at Saucon Valley Country Club.

Ochoa rolled in a zigzag, 50-foot birdie putt at her 11th hole, the 435-yard second at the 6,740-yard Old Course, and dropped in a 15-foot downhill putt on the next to lift her to two-under-par which is how she finished after a 69. Kerr made a great up-and-down at the 13th to save par from deep greenside rough and then birdied the 16th to also move to two-under and finished with a share of the lead.

American Jean Reynolds, a 24-year-old on the US Futures Tour, reached three-under with a birdie at 14 before bogeying the next to join compatriot Kerr and Mexico’s Ochoa on 69.

CHALLENGE TOUR: Michael McGeady showed signs of a return to form after a six-under-par 65 in the Allianz EurOpen de Lyon in France left him just two shots off the pace after the opening round.

McGeady made only one mistake, making double bogey on the 18th, his ninth after his drive found deep rough.

The lead was held by Scotsman Andrew McArthur and Frenchman Alexandre Kaleka, who is playing his first event as a professional having joined the paid ranks only on Monday.

Kaleka turned professional after representing France in the World Amateur Team Championships in Wales last week. Among his amateur highlights was finishing second in the same event at Western Gailes in Scotland three years ago when France were denied by an Irish team which included Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry. Kaleka’s 63 established a new course record at Golf du Gouverneur, equalled moments later by McArthur. McArthur has made two top 10s this season and lies 29th on the Challenge Tour rankings.

Colm Moriarty included six birdies in his round but two double bogeys and two bogeys ruined a good card while Noel Fox is well off the pace after a 77.