Maguire claims Ladies British Open Amateur Championship

GOLF

IRISH eyes were smiling at Pyle & Kenfig last Saturday when Leona Maguire lifted the 114th Ladies British Open Amateur Championship, writes Tony Poole.

The 22-year-old Curtis Cup star, who plays out of the Slieve Russell club in County Cavan, defeated Ainhoa Olarra (Spain) 3 & 2 in the 18-hole final.

“This was a championship I wanted to chalk off my list before going professional – and it’s fantastic to join famous names on the Trophy,” said Maguire during the presentation ceremony.

“Thanks to everyone at P&K, it was a wonderful venue and so well organised.’’

Maguire breezed into Kenfig last week as number one Ladies player on the World Amateur Golf Rankings – a position she’s held since last August.

In fact the young Irish player has topped the rankings for 94 weeks overall – and only Lydia Ko can better that record.

In the final, Olarra briefly led one up after three holes, but by the turn Maguire was three holes to the good.

Though Olarra reduced the deficit to two holes with a two on the par-three 15th, the players shook hands on the 16th green after Maguire closed out the win with a par four.

Earlier on Saturday, Maguire beat Anna Backman (Finland) 3 & 2 in the semi-finals with Olarra defeating Stina Resen (Norway) by a 4 & 3 margin.

Two all-Irish clashes dominated play on Friday with Paula Grant (Lisburn) eliminating Olivia Mehaffey (Royal County Down Ladies) by one hole.

That moved Grant into a quarter-final showdown with Maguire, who carded a 4 & 2 victory.

Defending champion Julia Engstrom (Sweden), who last year became the youngest tournament winner at the age of 15 when winning at Dundonald Links in Scotland, bowed out in the first round of Matchplay.

She was beaten on a first extra hole by Alice Hewson (Berkhamsted).

The opening two days were devoted to Strokeplay – to establish the 64 players who would move on to the Matchplay stage – and Paula Grant won the Doris Chambers Trophy for top qualifier with rounds of 70 and 68 for 138.

The best round, and winner of the Angus Trophy, was Linn Grant (Sweden), who shot a 65 in her first round on Tuesday.

And the tournament produced two holes-inone.

Maria Galvez (Spain) got an ace on the fourth hole on the opening day (Tuesday) while the day after Emily Toy (Carlyon) did likewise on the 15th green.