Defending Close champion Corcoran faces Doran clash

GOLF

SUZANNE CORCORAN will continue the defence of her Irish Senior Women’s Close Championship title this morning with a semi-final clash against Pat Doran at Monkstown.

Corcoran edged a tight quarterfinal encounter with East Cork’s Lillian Harrington with a nervy victory on the 18th hole, while Doran repeated the same trick against Carol Wickham (Laytown & Bettystown).

The defending champion, who only just made the match play rounds in the final qualifying place, had earlier seen off leading qualifier Laura Webb by one hole.

Doran, on the other hand, put in a dominant performance against Ann Moynihan-Rudden (Killarney) to claim a huge 6&4 victory.

The other semi-final sees 2015 and 2016 champion Gertie McMullen (The Island) face The Heath’s Catherine Reilly. McMullen booked her place in the last four with a 2&1 success over Mandy McEvoy (Bangor), while Reilly claimed victory at the 19th after producing a stunning comeback against Ballybunion’s Margaret McAuliffe.

MAURICE KELLY is on track to win the Irish Seniors Amateur Close Championship for a fifth time.

The Naas man holds a two-shot lead going into the final round at Enniscrone after carding a second successive two-under-par 71 yesterday.

Alan Moran leads the chase, an eagle the par-five 16th hole being the highlight of the Tuam player’s 71 yesterday to follow up on his first-round 73.

David Mulholland from Castlerock, who began round two tied for the lead, slipped back with a 75 and is tied for third on level-par with Steve Graham, four strokes back. The round of the day belonged to Royal Dublin’s Noel McGrane who made a hole-in-one at the eighth on his way to posting a superb 66.

SAILING

AFTER winning line honours with 15 hours to spare over the next placed boat, Niall Dowling’s Baraka Gp is now unbeatable for the overall prize in the Volvo Round Ireland Race.

Although more than half the f leet remained at sea last night, light winds have hampered progress so none can reach the Wicklow finish in time to better the Dún Laoghaire sailor’s result. The overall result has yet to be formally declared by Wicklow Sailing Club.

CYCLING

AQUA BLUE SPORT’S Stefan Denifl won’t be able to defend his Tour of Austria title after suffering a concussion during a training accident this week.

The Austrian rider had been making his final preparations for the eight-stage race on his home roads when he crashed on a descent.

“Credit to my helmet for saving my life or at the very least, preventing a much worse outcome,” said Denifl, who will be replaced by Andy Fenn.