Siblings set new records at Lurgan
NIAMH McSherry isn’t the only talented golfer in her family.
Not only did the Irish international (19) break the ladies’ course record at the Co Armagh club Lurgan this summer, her brother Michael (22) sliced two shots off the men’s record with a stunning 62
Niamh, who is currently on a golf scholarship at Kansas State University in the US, broke the ladies’ record with a 69.
But Michael went even lower and was stunned to break the 27-year old men’s record with an eight-under-par round
“It feels pretty surreal, to be honest,” he told BBC NI. “It had been a goal of mine [to break the record], but I didn’t think it was a realistic one if I’m perfectly honest.
“I just started playing well during the round, and at one point I was thinking if I get another couple of birdies I can do it.”
Niamh hopes to turn professional when she completes her degree in the US but she’s also got a back-up plan.
“Of course I would like to turn professional, but I am going to see how the next four years here go, and if it doesn’t work out for me to turn pro, I want to become a PE teacher in a secondary school,” she told the BBC from Kansas.
Members of Lurgan Golf Club are said to be immensely proud of the talent coming out of the club, with several members currently on stateside scholarships and competing regularly.
Nathan McCann has just begun a Business Studies degree at Colorado State University, while Peter Cummins will major in Sports Management at Rogers State University in Oklahoma.
“Everyone at the club is delighted for the four of them and they are wished all the very best,” said head professional, Peter Hanna.
The success of Lurgan’s young stars is a testament to the hard work of Hanna and his assistant, Zoe Allan and the creation of the club’s Centre of Excellence.
What’s more amazing is that there’s a lot more talent at the club in the shape of Lurgan’s biggest star so far, Annabel Wilson.
The 16-year old helped Ireland win its first bronze in the Espirito Santo Trophy for the World Amateur Team Championship in Mexico last year and captured the French Under 18 Championship in Paris earlier this season before going on to help Ireland win the Ladies’ Home Internationals.