BY CAOMH BREEN ALLEN
Gail Linter said her win at the Irish Senior Women’s Amateur Close Championship last year was a “pinch me moment”, and the Belvoir Park golfer is keeping her fingers crossed for another solid week as she aims to retain her title at Nenagh Golf Club.
The Irish Senior Men's & Women's Amateur Close Championship begins on Tuesday morning, with 146 players set to tee it up across both events with the opening two rounds of Stroke Play qualifying take place tomorrow and Wednesday before focus switches to match play, culminating in the final rounds on Friday.
Linter was crowned champion in Kilkeel in 2024 following a dramatic playoff, clinching victory on the 19th hole against Deirdre Smith (County Louth) in what was a proud moment for the Down native.
“It was so unexpected. I think that sticks out in my memory most,” said Linter.
“Just going into a tournament and going from one day to the next and then all of a sudden, I got through to the end. I just wasn't expecting it, and it was just a great and a pinch me moment, and probably, a year later it still is, so it's just something I'm really proud of.”
Her strong form continued after Kilkeel, as she helped the Irish Senior Women’s team to victory at the Senior Home Internationals at Castlerock, and carried that momentum into 2025, finishing inside the top five at both the Irish Senior Women’s Amateur Open Championship and the Ulster Over-18 Women’s Senior Championship.
“To finish fourth in the stroke play was a good end to the week, just to keep three good rounds going, so that was really good, and then the Ulster stroke play as well, so it hasn't been too bad,” said Linter.
“We just need to continue it on for another wee while.”
On the men’s side, Galway’s Joe Lyons also returns to defend his Irish Senior Men’s Amateur Close title after defeating good friend Eddie McCormack (Galway Bay) in the final last season.
Lyons begins his defence at 8:30 am tomorrow, teeing off alongside John O’Brien (Castlemartyr) and Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion). Linter too will have an early start at 9.20am with Maria O’Reilly (Headfort Golf Club) and Mary MacLaren (Royal Portrush).
As she prepares to get her week underway, Linter knows the significance of arriving to the Tipperary course as the reigning champion.
“Lots of people would love to win the Irish Senior Close and I'm just very privileged to have done it,” said Linter.
“I just embrace it and, get on with it because it is special to win any championship. I'm very proud of that.”
“We'll keep our fingers crossed and just hope for some good golf along the way. We'll see what happens.”
The Irish Senior Men's & Women's Amateur Close Championships begin tomorrow morning with a two-tee start, as last year’s runner up Smith and 2023 champion Tracy Eakin (Dooks) get the Senior Women’s championship underway from the first tee at 8.40am, while Lyons, O’Brien and Sheehan begin the Senior Men’s Championship from the ninth tee at 8.30am.
View tee times and scoring here
