More silverware for Leona Maguire
DUKE University’s Leona Maguire added another honour to her growing resume on Monday when she was named 2017 Global Golf Post Female Amateur of the Year.
Winner of the Mark H. McCormack Medal for the third consecutive year as the top golfer in the women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking, she was one of nine Irish amateurs to make one of the season-ending lists drawn up by the online golf magazine.
Her win in the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship was one of six wins she recorded this year alone and her decision to remain at Duke University until she graduates in May has received much praise.
Guaranteed a Symetra Tour card by simply teeing it up at Stage II of the recent LPGA Qualifying School, Maguire has caught the eye of LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan, who knows he has a potential superstar on his hands.
“I sure wish more kids were like her, committed to school first,” Whan told Global Golf Post. “The Symetra Tour will be the perfect option for her after she finishes at Duke. I love her patience and confidence.”
Leona, who celebrates her 23rd birthday with twin sister Lisa today, would have been obliged to turn professional immediately had she decided to go to next month’s Final Stage of Q-School and won her card.
But she believes she’s made the correct decision as he bids to end her college career with
the one title that still eludes her — the NCAA team title.
“Obviously, I’ll miss seven or eight Symetra Tour events early in the year but earning your LPGA Tour card is still very doable,” she said.
“And if I earn my way on (the LPGA Tour) through the Symetra Tour, I’ll likely have better status than if I went through the Final Stage of Q-School anyway.”
As for the Global Golf Post lists, Wake Forest and The Island star Paul McBride received Honorable Mention for making the Walker Cup team.
Douglas’ Peter O’Keeffe made the First Team Men’s Mid-Amateur selection for winning the Irish Amateur Open while Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell and Galway Bay’s Eddie McCormack were named in the Second Team with honourable mention for Balbriggan’s Robbie Cannon.
Portmarnock’s Adrian Morrow was a Second Team selection amongst the Senior Men while Mehaffey made the Second Team Women’s Amateur team and Laura Webb the Women’s Senior Amateur Second Team.