World bronze is just the start, vows Huston
NORTHERN Ireland archer Patrick Huston is confident that more special days are ahead after he helped the Great Britain team win a bronze medal at the World Cup in Turkey.
It was an outstanding result for Belfast man Huston, who along with Tom Hall and Alex Wise finished third in the recurve competition.
It was the first time a British team had made the podium in the event since 2012.
What made the achievement in Turkey all the more impressive was that 22-year-old Huston and his team-mates only qualified for the knockout stages in 14th position before going on to make it to the semi-finals, where they
Medal delight: NI ace Patrick Huston
lost to Japan.
In the bronze medal match at the weekend, GB were underdogs against fourth seeds Malaysia but after losing the first set, Huston, Hall and Wise took command in some style to triumph 6-2.
Olympic archer Huston, renowned for wearing a flat cap during competition, said: “This trio is the start of something special.
“We have been working together a while and are starting to click. This is down to a lot of winter practice and we have got a lot more in us,” added Huston, who reached the last 16 of the individual recurve competition in the second World Cup event of the season.
Rookie Wise , winning his first medal on the international stage, paid tribute to the experience of Huston and Hall when the pressure was on.
“There’s nothing better than getting a result with people you’ve grown to love shooting with,” said Wise.
“Much appreciation to my team-mates for using their experience to keep me grounded, allowing me to shoot at my best.” OLIVIA Mehaffey will get her first taste of life inside the ropes at a US Women’s Open after receiving a late call-up to play in this week’s event at Shoal Creek, Alabama.
“It is a great learning opportunity to get to do this as an amateur,” said the 20-year-old, who is ranked 20th in the world.
“I’m excited to get out there and be in that environment.”
The Banbridge-born golfer, who has just completed the second year of her college career at Arizona State, tried to play her way into the tournament via qualifying on May 14 but agonisingly came up one shot short.
However, she gratefully accepted the invite received on
Excited: Olivia Mehaffey
Sunday evening and hopped on an early flight yesterday morning to Alabama.
The last golfer from Northern Ireland to compete in the US Women’s Open was Stephanie Meadow, who remarkably finished in third place, three shots behind the winner Michelle Wie, on her pro debut in 2014.
This will not be Olivia’s first experience of Major golf, she competed in last year’s Ricoh British Open, carding rounds of 72 and 75 to miss the cut.
“I’m excited, anytime you get the opportunity to tee it up with the professionals and play majors is amazing,” she added.
“I love the big events, the crowds and being surrounded by great players.”
It’s the start of a busy summer of golf for Olivia, who will go from the US Open to the Curtis Cup in New York (June 8-11) followed by the Palmer Cup at Evian Resort GC (July 6-8).
Olivia will be joined in the Curtis Cup team by Lisburn’s Paula Grant as Great Britain and Ireland attempt to retain the title they won at Dun Laoghaire GC two years ago.