(22 June 2009 – Dublin, Ireland)
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After having last week off, all of the Top-40 players on the Henderson Money List will tee it up at the Euro;500,000 AIB Ladies Irish Open this week at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links.
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rnLed by Norway&aposs Marianne Skarpnord, runner-up to compatriot Suzann Pettersen at the 2008 event, players will compete at the tough links layout in Dublin for the second year running. Apart from Katherine Hull, who won the ANZ Ladies Masters, all of this year’s winners will headline one of the most lucrative events on the LET schedule. Laura Davies (Women’s Australian Open), Marjet van Der Graaf and Christel Boeljon (European Nations Cup), Skarpnord (Ladies Swiss Open), Jade Schaeffer (Ladies Germen Open), Tania Elosegui (Ladies Dutch Open) and Johanna Westerberg (Ladies Open of Portugal) will all be looking a second title to their season. They will be joined by the big hitting Swede Sophie Gustafson and 2008 European No.1 Gwladys Nocera of France.
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rnAccording to Yvonne Cassidy, Tournament Director, “It is a very rare occurrence” for every one of Europe’s Top-40 ranked professionals to enter a tournament. This demonstrates the success of the 2008 event at Portmarnock Links, which, with the large prize fund, quickly established itself as one of the premier events on the Ladies European Tour.
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rnThe ALPG will be represented by a group of 10 players, with most looking for better results than they have posted in the early stages of the season. Only Karen Lunn (6th) and Nikki Garrett (20th) have performed well enough to sit in the Top-20 on the Henderson Money List and will be looking to continue their fine start to the season. Mianne Bagger, Frances Bondad, Lynnette Brooky, Rebecca Coakley, Lisa Jean, Dana Lacey, Joanne Mills and Bronwyn Mullins-Lane will all be looking for a good performance to climb the rankings.
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Photo by Anthony Powter – Laura Davies