Pitch & Putt IrelandPreview - Ladies - National Seniors Strokeplay 2025
Preview - National Seniors Strokeplay 2025
Ladies preview by John Manning
Small but select fields will contest the National Ladies Over-55 Strokeplay championships at Riverdale (Nenagh) next weekend.
The senior grade features no fewer than four former champions.
The 2024 runner-up, Tullamore’s Margaret Hogan is a two-time winner, having triumphed at Gaeil Colmcille in 2014 (where she posted the all-time low winning aggregate of 95) and at E.S.B. six years ago.
Margaret defeated Mary Murray (Rocklodge) in a play-off for that 2019 championship at E.S.B. Mary was the defending champion that year, having claimed the title at McDonagh in 2018. Mary was also champion in the intermediate grade at Fermoy in 2016.
2017 World Over-55 Strokeplay champion at Verin in Galicia, Breda White (Tipperary Hills) boasts a very impressive recent record in the Irish Over-55 championship. First champion at Fermoy nine years ago, Breda added another victory at Bellewstown in 2022. She has also earned two bronze medals. at E.S.B. in 2019 and at St. Stephen’s twelve months ago.
Ger Holland (R.G.S.C.) beat Margaret Hogan into second place at Old County in 2015 and was herself runner-up to Geraldine Ward at Glenville in 2023.
The 2025 senior grade field is augmented by two Dublin Inter-County stalwarts, friends and Lucan club colleagues, Glenda Hoey and Siobhan Keely. 2022 National Strokeplay runner-up Glenda Hoey is a three-time Dublin champion while Siobhan Keely was crowned the capital’s Matchplay champ in 2008 and 2022.
Standout pairing in the intermediate championship sees 2019 champion Frances Ryan (Lakeside) playing alongside 2024 runner-up Margaret Forde of the host club. Junior winner at Collins in 2012, Margaret has also twice finished third at intermediate level, at Old County in 2015 and at E.S.B. four years later.
Another all-Tipperary group brings together Bridget Shelley (Lakeside) and Liz Forde (Riverdale). Bridget Shelley is past three-time National Ladies graded Strokeplay champion while Liz has been a bronze medallist in both the National Ladies Over-55 intermediate (in 2023) and junior (2017) Strokeplay championships.
2023 runner-up Joyce Keane (Glenville) is back for another tilt at the National Ladies Over-55 intermediate grade Strokeplay title, as is her playing partner for the day, Hillview’s Pauline Lucey, who placed second at Erry in 2013 before capturing bronze at Fermoy in 2016.
2020 All-Ireland Ladies Matchplay Nett Cup winner Margaret Hennessy (Riverdale) plays as does the lady she beat in the final that year, Lorraine Creed (Hillview). Lorraine will bid for a quick double, having been crowned National Ladies Over-55 Junior Strokeplay champion at St. Stephen’s last July.
2023 runner-up Christina Foley (Athgarvan) and 2025 semi-finalist Angela Connolly (Eden) have recently been prominent in the All-Ireland Ladies Matchplay Nett Cup.
Current Leinster Matchplay champion Teresa Fagan (Royal Meath) will contend as will Ursula Dowd (Navan), 1987 provincial Matchplay champion in the senior grade.
2006 National Intermediate Strokeplay champion Patricia McLoughlin is in the field as is her Shandon colleague Mary Fullam, 2012 runner-up in the same championship
A couple of Loughlinstown ladies, Ann Baldacchino and Jeannie Kelly, complete the line-up.
Two former winners headline the Ladies Junior entry. Bruff’s Margaret O’Donovan topped the 2019 leaderboard at E.S.B. in 2019 and her successor as champion (following the Covid hiatus) was Ryston’s Ann Williams at Bellewstown in 2022.
Margaret’s good form in this championship continues and she was runner-up to Lorraine Creed at St. St. Stephen’s last year. Ann has reached two Leinster Matchplay finals in recent years.
Ann Flynn (Glenville) took third place behind Ann Williams at Bellewstown three years ago and was also a podium finisher in the 2021 Dublin Strokeplay championship.
Catherine Dunne (Riverdale) is a proven performer at national level, having been runner-up in the National Junior Strokeplay championship (2020) and third with Riverdale in the National Mixed Team Event (2007).
Former Pitch and Putt Ireland Children’s Officer Catherine Keane (Glenville) has been a loyal supporter of and consistent prize winner in Ladies provincial Social tournaments.
Ann Minogue (Ferbane) was runner-up in the successive Leinster Strokeplay championships of 2015 and 2016, having been third at intermediate level in 2008.
A 2013 National Mixed Team Event winner with Ferbane at Douglas, Eileen Guerin has been prominent in recent Ladies Social tournaments.
Eileen is drawn with 2024 Dublin Mixed Scramble winner with Lucan at Portmarnock, Ann Heffernan.
Best of Luck to all our ladies and thanks as always to John Manning.
Latest National News
Latest Regional News
| Brock Inn Pitch & Putt Club @ Glenville - 21st June 2025 |
| PPI Affiliation |
| Galway Masters June 1st |
| Galway Masters at Mellows |
| Kilbeggan - Bob Gorman Memorial Open Scotch Foursomes. |