Wickham and Murphy make matchplay impact

AN expectant mother and a schoolgirl emerged as the leading figures in the Lancome sponsored Irish Women's Close Championship at Tram ore yesterday, providing the material which confined two current internationals to early exits as the event entered the match play stage.

Carol Wickham, who is four months pregnant, and 15 year old Pamela Murphy, who last year became the youngest ever winner of the Irish Girls' title, displayed calmness in the face of battle to dispatch Hazel Kavanagh and Yvonne Cassidy respectively on a day when mild tremors sounded around the tough park land course.

Among the other notable casualties were eight times champion Mary McKenna and last year's beaten finalist Sheena O'Brien Kenney but, in truth, the day belonged to the exploits of Wickham and Murphy, both of whom were required to go down the 18th to confirm advancement to the second round.

Wickham, with husband Den is Taylor acting as caddy, was three up after eight holes against an out of sorts Kavanagh who relied on her short game to forge an ill fated comeback. The Laytown and Bettystown player a finalist at Westport in 1989 seemed to be coasting at that stage, yet found herself all square by the time she reached the 18th tee box.

It was cruelly ironic, therefore, that Kavanagh, whose putting had rescued her repeatedly on the homeward journey, should three putt the last missing a three footer which would have sent the match down the 19th and enable Wickham to book her place in the second round.

"I wasn't expecting Hazel to miss that short putt and was preparing mentally for tie holes," conceded Wickham. "But I'm playing very solidly and felt in control for most of the match. I'm very pleased with this win, particularly as I won't be playing much competitive golf after this week."

For Kavanagh, the first round exit summed up a rather disappointing time for the international who had started the season with hopes of making the British and Irish Curtis Cup team for the match with the Americans at Killarney next month. She never made that team, and yesterday's defeat was another chastening experience for the Grange player.

Murphy, meanwhile, confirmed the favourable impression created in her under age exploits when beating Dundalk's Cassidy by one hole in her first ever senior match play encounter "I came here this week for the experience. It was great to survive the stroke play qualifying, and terrific to actually go on and beat Yvonne," she said.

It all means another day off school in St Mary's, Killester, for the young hot shot who recently won the Irish intermediate stroke play title. Murphy, in fact, showed character and resilience to hold off Cassidy's late charge.

The Dubliner was three up after 15 holes, but lost the 16th and 17th before steadying herself to complete the win on the last and set up a second round meeting with Leitrim Cup winner Ada O'Sullivan, the day's biggest winner, who inflicted a 6 and 5 defeat on local player Helen Costello.

Another of Ireland's up and coming players Alison Coffey, who won her first senior cap last year, was also in good form in beating O'Brien Kenney by 2 and 1, while Helen Jones, who reached the last 16 of last year's British Amateur championship, was required to secure victory at the first tie hole against McKenna.

Defending champion Eileen Rose Power was also impressive, being an estimated one over par for the 16 holes she required to beat Emma Dickson. This was a lot more comfortable than the advance of Munster champion Eavan Higgins, who appeared to be cruising when five up with six to play against Mary Hanly, but didn't dismiss the battling Waterford player until the 18th.