Gillen Opens Q School with 74

India’s Sharmila Nicollet and Chrisje de Vries of the Netherlands set a flying pace with rounds of five under par on the opening day of the Ladies European Tour’s Final Qualifying School for the 2012 season at La Manga Club in Spain.

Nicollet had seven birdies and two bogeys for an opening 68 on the South Course while De Vries had four birdies, one bogey and an eagle two at the ninth hole in a 66 on the North Course.

England’s Jodi Ewart, Germany’s Stephanie Kirchmayr, Sweden’s Elin Emanuelsson and Spain’s Laura Cabanillas were the next best placed players on three under par.

On two under par were Marjet Van der Graff, Alexandre Vilatte, Mary Mattson, Jessica Yadloczky, Caroline Martens and Eleanor Givens.

Co-leader Nicollet, 20, from south Bangalore, said that she felt confident after shooting her best score in Europe.

“This is my first experience here in Spain and at the qualifiers. The whole of India is behind me. I am the only Indian to qualify so a lot of motivation and pressure got me through,” Nicollet said. 

“I love Europe and want to play here so that motivates me to want to play here. I’m in my comfort zone in India so I need to test myself. Playing five under par amongst the top players has boosted my confidence for the last few days. I’m in good form and my game is good so that pretty much sums up my feelings. The weather was perfect and it was the best time to play so I’m loving everything.”

Nicollet said that all parts of her game came together, but she was particularly pleased to have had only 29 putts.

“I’m very comfortable with my driving and putting, but putting was probably my strength today. I holed a lot of medium range putts and started birdie, birdie, birdie, so I was four under after five.”

De Vries was equally pleased after her round, having finished with an eagle at the ninth after holing her second shot with a five-iron from 143 metres. 

The 23-year-old from Amsterdam said: “It was a pretty special round actually. I started off okay with a bogey on 11 but then made a birdie on 15 and 16 and in between made pars and a few up and downs. From that point I started putting better and my caddie was making good decisions about the clubs and the wind, which was a bit tricky, I thought. I had a birdie on the third and then kept working at shots. I made a birdie on eight and nine was a nice finish. I just brought it in from the right with the wind.”

De Vries held limited membership of the LET in category 11a in 2011 and played in only three tournaments, missing the cut in Holland, Morocco and Sicily. She also played on the LET Access Series with a season best finish of sixth at the LETAS Ladies Open in Hazlemere and feels that every competitive experience is improving her game.

At the other end of the experience spectrum, Cabanillas, from Malaga, has played on tour for 11 years and has returned to La Manga Club for the second successive year but feels no pressure to retain her playing privileges.

She had three birdies in a round of 68 on the North Course and said: “I think all the shots were fine. I feel very confident with the driver and with the irons. The putts were really good but I lipped out many times and could have had four more birdies.”

Ewart, born in North Allerton in Yorkshire, carded a 70 on the South Course containing two birdies, a bogey and an eagle.

The 24-year-old, who lives in Florida, is an experienced competitor having earned her card for the LPGA in December.

She said: “This will be my fourth time at a Q-School so I’m used to how it works.”

On her round, she added: “I played really solid and only had one bogey so really steady. I eagled the last hole, the 18th, which was nice. I hit a five-iron to ten feet from 165 yards and holed it, so a nice way to finish.”

Kirchmayr also shot 70 on the South Course after carding two birdies, a bogey and an eagle.

The 26-year-old from Nuernberg in Bavaria was pleased with the start to her final qualifying campaign.

“It was a great round. I thought it was quite tough this morning with the wind, but I guess it was not that tough because so many scores are under par.

On her eagle at the par-five 18th, she added: “I took driver and hit a four-iron into the green and made a really good putt from four metres downhill. It was a good round and I didn’t make many mistakes.”

The 90-hole Final Qualifying School is being played over the resort’s two world-class courses, the North and the South, for the first four rounds with a cut to the leading 50 players and ties after 72 holes. The fifth round will be played on the South Course on Thursday and the top 30 players will earn LET Membership in category 8a.

Gillen Sole Success at LET Q School

Martina Gillen of Team Ireland Golf was the only Irish player to come through the Ladies European Tour  pre-qualifying tournament at La Manga yesterday.

The field for the 72-hole event was divided into two groups, with 35 places available in each for final qualifying, which starts at La Manga on Sunday.

All the players competed alternately on the North and South courses at the Spanish resort.

Gillen comfortably finished joint 15th in Group B on seven-over par - 18 shots behind England's Hannah Burke.

Burke won the Irish Women's Open Strokeplay Championship in 2010 at Newlands.

The previous year she lost a marathon play-off at the seventh tie-hole to Lisa Maguire at Slieve Russell.

Former Curtis Cup player Danielle McVeigh and PGA professional Marion Riordan finished outside the qualifying places.

McVeigh was tied-54th in Group B on 17-over par, while Riordan finished joint 60th on 18-over par in Group A.

McGrane Sets Joburg Pace

Damien McGrane set about making amends for his missed cut at the African Open as the Meath man set the early target at the Joburg Open this morning. McGrane, one of three Irish players in the 210-strong field, leads by one on eight under.

With the event played over two courses at Royal Johannesburg, McGrane took full advantage of conditions on the West Course to post a round of 63, one ahead of South Africa’s Desvonde Botes.

Peter Lawrie was not faring quite so well having reached the turn on one over while Simon Thornton was among the afternoon starters.

Charl Schwartzel, seeking a hat-trick of victories in the event to join a select group of just six players to win the same European Tour event three years in a row, made a shaky start to lie one over through nine holes.

McGrane carded five birdies in a flawless front nine of 31, before collecting two more and an eagle on the 15th on the back nine. The only blemish on his scorecard came at the 18th with a bogey five, but he still enjoyed a one-shot advantage over Botes.

“I am delighted to be in a good position after round one,” McGrane said after signing for his 63. “For the last three or four years Irish golf has been quite incredible, and I think we feed off each other. For a small nation it sure is great to be there or thereabouts.

“I stacked up a few birdies during the round, but that eagle really turned my round. I played beautifully from start to finish, and this course does give up opportunities. The greens and weather were perfect, so if you’re on your game there are birdie chances. Needless to say you have to make the chances and today I holed a few nice putts.

“I hit plenty of fairways and holed a few nice putts for birdie, it was just the bogey at the last which was disappointing. Apart from that it was a perfect round of golf.”

Botes carded a seven-under 65 to claim outright second, and was the only player in the top 17 to make his score on the par-72 East Course.

Seven players were a shot further back on six under including Scottish duo David Drysdale and George Murray. Drysdale holed a 20-foot birdie putt at the last for an inward nine of 30 just before play was suspended due to thunderstorms.

Roe Park Resort See Open Benefits

Local leaders believe the Limavady borough will be able to cash in on the benefits of having the Irish Open at the Royal Portrush Golf Club in the summer.

The decision to move the European Tour event from Killarney, Co Kerry, follows the achievements of Northern Ireland’s three major winners in the last two years. Darren Clarke’s emotional victory in the Open Championship at Sandwich in Kent last summer followed the successive US Open victories of Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy. McDowell and Clarke have homes in Portrush.

East Derry Assemblyman, John Dallat said securing the Irish Open could open the way for a major return. “Anything is now possible,” he said. “Confidence at that level has now been bestowed on the club, so why not?”

Limavady Mayor, Sean McGlinchey hopes the Roe Valley will experience a major boost, including welcoming tourists to its hotels, B&Bs, shops and restaurants.

“It’s great news and we all hope the Limavady borough can enjoy some of the spin offs,” said the Sinn Fein councillor.

SDLP Colr. Michael Coyle said it was “terrific news” for the borough. “It will be a chance for those who play golf to get the chance to meet international sports men and women.”

Director of Development at Limavady Borough Council, Valerie Richmond said: “Great opportunities exist now for Council, our local businesses and tourism providers to attract many of these visitors to Limavady both during 2012 and in the future. Council is delighted that the hard work by various organisations to bring this prestigious tournament to Portrush exceeded expectations. Council now looks forward to a successful event and prosperous tourism season for all.”

General Manager of the newly rebranded Roe Park Resort, Limavady, George Graham said: “As the only 4 star golf resort in the North Coast we are delighted that the Royal Portrush has been selected as the venue for the 2012 Irish Open. The past number of years have been challenging for the tourism and hospitality sectors and the announcement of a professional golf tournament of this magnitude is a welcome boast for the area. Already we have received significant enquiries about overnight stays and golf breaks at our 18 hole parkland golf course and look forward to the return of the Irish Open to the region for the first time since 1947.”

DUP Colr. George Robinson said: “The tournament will bring a much needed boost to the tourist economy in the area, and will guarantee worldwide exposure for Northern Ireland golf, which we must capitalise on.”

There have been calls for the return of the Greencastle to Magilligan Ferry in time for the Irish Open. Billy McCaul, manager of Greencastle Golf Club says the return of the ferry in the run up to and during the golf competition could have major benefits for the whole Inishowen area.

Hoey Welcomes Irish Open Venue

Northern Ireland golfer Michael Hoey has welcomed the news that Royal Portrush will stage the 2012 Irish Open, and expects it to be a great tournament.

It's the first time the Irish Open will be held in Northern Ireland since the tournament was hosted by Belvoir Park in Belfast in 1953. Royal Portrush last staged the Irish Open in 1947 when it was won by the legendary Harry Bradshaw.

Hoey, speaking to Pauric Lodge on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, said, "Everyone has heard about Portrush. It's known all over the world, and to get the opportunity to play a big tournament at the course is great.

"I think that we could and should have had it in the past but, with all the major champions from Northern Ireland, I think now is great timing.

"Playing the tournament three weeks prior to the British Open is great, and hopefully they can attract some more of the top players in the world.

"I'm sure that the likes of Tiger Woods, Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood have heard a lot about Portrush and would like to play there.

"If we get four days with decent weather, and the field we are going to have, it will be a great tournament."