Despite a steady performance throughout a long difficult day, Ireland still face a tough task in their bid to keep alive their interest in the amateur Women's European Championship over the St Germain course in Paris.
They recorded a five-player aggregate of 384 in the first qualifying round yesterday and are right on the borderline in ninth spot.
In general, the Irish produced solid performances with Suzanne O'Brien, the sister of Walker Cup star Jody Fanagan, the best of the team with a two-over-par 74.
Out in level par 37, the 32-year-old from Milltown, playing her second European championship, had birdie chances but did not hole any putts of any significance.
On the way home she dropped a stroke on the 14th when she pushed her second shot out to the right and the 15th where she missed putt of only about three feet.
New Irish champion Claire Coughlan from Cork hit the ball solidly and was quite pleased with the way she performed in this her first full international.
Coughlan's biggest disappointment was a double bogey six at the 18th where she drove into trees, hacked out and ended up by taking three putts.
Eileen Rose Power, the former Curtis Cup star from Kilkenny, was in solid form and took 75. In fact if it had not been for a triple bogey seven at the eighth where she got into all sorts of trouble and had to take a penalty drop, she would have had a pretty good score. Warrenpoint's Alison Coffey, the 26-year-old Ulster women's champion, three putted six times in her 79 while Emma Dickson was not at all happy with her 80 and Oonagh Purfield, a replacement for Lilian Behan, was distressed that she had a couple of disasters in her 85.
Irish manager Jane Allen believes that the team can perform better today and take their place in the first flight. France lead the way with a 362 total while England are third, Wales seventh Ireland ninth and Scotland 11th.
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