Olivia inspires Ireland to strong start in World bid
OLIVIA Mehaffey led from the front as Ireland overcame firstday nerves to make a positive start in their medal bid in the World Amateur Team Championships at Carton House.
Determined to back up a breakthrough bronze medal-winning performance in Mexico two years ago, the Irish trio ended the opening day tied for sixth with Australia on three-under, five shots behind leaders Japan.
Lurgan teenager Annabel Wilson (17) — a medal winner with Mehaffey and Leona Maguire at just 15 in Mexico two years ago — played like a veteran as she overcame driving gremlins and shot an impressive 71 on the tough Montgomerie Course alongside American World No.1 Jennifer Kupcho in her second Espirito Santo appearance.
And while a grinding 74 by Lisburn’s Paula Grant (24) was Ireland’s discarded score in a 72hole team event where only the best two scores count each day, Mehaffey (20) showed her class when she fired a battling 70 to lie eighth in the individual standings on two-under.
She’s five shots behind Yuka Yasuda (17), whose seven-under 65 on the Montgomerie Course, coupled with 71s by both teammates Yuri Yoshida and Yuna Nishimura, gave Japan a twostroke lead over China, who played the easier O’Meara Course on eight-under.
With the powerful USA trio tied for eighth on two-under, it was little wonder Irish captain Danielle McVeigh was proud.
“The girls stayed very patient,” said McVeigh. “The course threw a lot of challenges at them, so I think that really paid dividends.
“They ground it out well. So I’m incredibly proud of them and how they handled themselves.”
World No.23 Mehaffey had the honour of hitting the opening shot. But while she opened with a bogey, her nerves faded when she pitched into the hole from 23 yards for birdie at the third.
“I was a bit more nervous than I thought,” said Mehaffey, who birdied the fifth and lipped out with an eagle chip at the eighth to turn in two-under. “I didn’t expect so many people to be out there at a 7.45am.
“When I pitched straight into the hole at the third that gave me a wee bit more momentum, and I felt a wee bit more relaxed.”
Three-under after hitting a wedge to a foot at the 322-yard 13th, she had to hole a six-footer for par after a brilliant pitch at the tough 16th and a nine-footer for her par five at the 18th.
Defending champions Korea are tied for third, with Germany and Austria on four-under, but Ireland can be pleased with their opening effort with Wilson showing huge maturity.
Unaware that Kupcho, who shot 70, was the World No.1, the Lurgan schoolgirl admitted she struggled off the tee but was pleased to battle for her 71.
Grant made four birdies but was left to rue four bogeys and a double-bogey at the 12th, as well as a lip-out for birdie from four feet at the 17th.