Leinster, seeking a third successive AIB Women's inter-provincial golf championship, made an impressive opening to the defence of their title by beating Munster 7-2 at Carlow yesterday. The defending champions won all three of their morning foursome matches, which were played in surprisingly good conditions.
In the afternoon singles, Leinster won 4-2, with former British Open champion, Lillian Behan (The Curragh) being an impressive 5 and 3 winner over Eavan Higgins of Douglas in Cork.
As anticipated, Ulster, winners of this title when it was last staged in Carlow in 1989, defeated Connacht. Their margin of victory was 7 1/2 1 1/2.
Ulster won the morning foursomes by 2 1/2 - 1/2 and in the afternoon rain emerged 5-1 victors in the singles.
A novel aspect of the Connacht team is that it contains a mother and daughter, Eileen and Helen McMullen from Donegal.
This is the 32nd year of the inter-pros and Leinster are seeking a 22nd outright victory, having shared the title once with Ulster. Munster have five wins and Ulster four, with one shared. Connacht are still seeking a first victory.
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