2026 National Seniors Strokeplay Ladies Previews - By John Manning

Small select fields contest the three National Ladies Over-55 Strokeplay championships at

Rochfortbridge on Sunday.

The inimitable Geraldine Ward (Portmarnock) seeks a fourth title in a row and the senior entry also includes three other former champions, 2014 and 2019 winner Margaret Hogan (Tullamore), Ger Holland (R.G.S.C.), who triumphed in 2015 and reigning National Matchplay champion Breda White (Tipperary Hills), who claimed Over-55 Strokeplay laurels in 2022.

Also playing in the senior grade is last year’s Intermediate champion at Riverdale, Margaret Hennessy (Riverdale) as are two former All-Ireland Matchplay champions Eleanor Walsh (Fermoy) and Paula Lynch (Oldcastle).

Geraldine Ward with 100 was chased home by Margaret Hogan on 102 when the Leinster Ladies Strokeplay championship was contested at Rochfortbridge nine years ago. It wouldn’t be beyond the bounds of possibility for this scenario to unfold again.

The intermediate roster is headlined by 2023 champ Mary Quinn (Lakeside) and 2012 Junior grade champion Margaret Forde (Riverdale), who was intermediate silver medallist at St. Stephen’s a couple of years ago. Margaret also boasts a trio of third place finishes in the championship. Joining the Tipperary twosome in the event is Veronica Clarke (Kilbeggan), crowned junior champion at Deerpark in 2006.

Margaret Conneely (Trim) collected the Nett prize at Bellewstown in 2022.

Bridget Shelly (Lakeside) is a former two-time National Intermediate Strokeplay champion (as well as a Junior Strokeplay title) at the normal adult level and will be fancied to contend in the 2026 All- Ireland Over-55s intermediate grade Strokeplay championship as will Kilbeggan’s Kathleen Carton, three times a podium finisher in the National Intermediate Strokeplay championship.

Cloghogue’s Bronagh Crilly (junior) and R.G.S.C.’s Susan Ritchie (intermediate) both have Leinster Strokeplay championship successes to their name.

Liz Forde (Riverdale) claimed third spot in the 2017 junior championship at Cloghogue.

Teresa Fagan (Royal Meath) and Linda Flanagan (Erry) are both former Leinster Intermediate Matchplay champions.

2019 champion and 2024 runner-up, Margaret O’Donovan (Bruff) has a distinct appetite for the

National Over-55s Junior grade Strokeplay championship and is sure to be in the shake-up again.

Last year’s runner-up and 2022 champion, Ann Williams (Ryston) is another player with every chance of lifting the cup for a second time.

Cloghogue pair Darlene Parr and Shirley Wells clashed in the recent Leinster Matchplay final at McDonagh and will travel south again with confidence.

Anne Flynn placed third behind Ann Williams at Bellewstown four years ago and will seek to continue the excellent record of Glenville players in this championship.

Serena O’Neill (Larkspur Park) will bid to build on last year’s Best Nett winning performance at Riverdale.

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