Sunday, April 25, 2010

Debutante Nikki finishes runner-up in Helen Holm tournament

Leading prizewinners in the 2010 'Helen Holm,' left to right, Louise Kenney, Hannah Barwood, Nikki Foster, Charlotte Ellis, winner Danielle McVeigh, best Under-18 Lauren Taylor, Leona Maguire and Rachael Jennings (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency; click on it to enlarge).


Danielle swoops again to
win a title in Scotland as
Louise drops late shots
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
For the second time within a year, Maynooth University, Dublin student Danielle McVeigh has won a prestigious golf tournament over a Scottish links by being patient and making a winning effort over the closing holes.
The 22-year-old, 6ft 1in Royal Co Down Ladies Golf Club member did it at Royal Aberdeen last autumn in winning the British women's open amateur stroke-play championship. And she did it again in the first big women's amateur domestic event of the 2010 season - the 54-hole Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Troon.
Trailing in third place by three shots with only five holes to play over the testing Royal Troon championship links today, Danielle turned the leaderboard on its head by holing from off the green for a birdie 2 at the 14th and then followed that with an eagle 3 at 425yd 15th where she holed a 15ft putt after a splendidly struck drive and five-iron to to the green.
That saw her surge from eight under par for the tournament to 11 under at the same time as joint leader Louise Kenney from Dunfermline double bogeyed the short 14th in a bunker and dropped another shot at the 15th. McVeigh covered these two holes in five brilliant shots. Kenney required 11 shots. That's where the 2010 'Helen Holm' was won and lost.
"If you had told me before the tournament started that I would finish on seven under par, I would have taken it, gladly," said Louise Kenney later. "But, here I am, seven under par after 54 holes and I am bitterly disappointed that I have finished only joint third. I played only a couple of slack shots over the closing holes and I was really punished for them."
On the outward journey, Kenney had led by two shots from Foster and by five from McVeigh at one stage. A 2 at the short fifth put the Fifer at 12 under par - the peak of her scoring for the tournament. She bogeyed the eighth and ninth to fall back to 10 under with nine to play, allowing Foster to draw level, the pair being two shots ahead of McVeigh.
Nikki Foster, the 18-year-old Lancashire lass making her debut in the event, bogeyed the 14th and was overhauled by McVeigh's eagle at the 15th where she herself had a par 5. Foster then bogeyed the 17th and 18th.
For the record, Danielle, who says she will turn pro after completing her degree course at Maynooth - another year to go - had rounds of 70 and 71 over Troon Portland and then a 74 over Royal Troon for 10-under-par 215.
Foster finished runner-up on 217 with scores of 67, 71 and 79 for 217.
McVeigh said later:
"I am really delighted to have won the Helen Holm tournament. I played solidly throughout the three days - but you know I almost pulled out before I struck a ball on Friday," said Danielle.
"I went in to Glasgow to have a meal on the eve of the tournament and I was laid low by something like foodpoisoning. If I had had a later starting time on Friday, I would definitely not have made it. I hadn't slept a wink, I had been desperately sick and my stomach was so upset, I really felt like staying in bed for a week.
"But I did make it to the first tee ... and look what's happened! I felt a little bit better on Saturday and as right as rain today. I am so glad I didn't pull out. I've another year to do at university. After that I want to turn professional and join the other Irish girls on the Ladies European Tour."
Defending champion Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) and her 15-year-old twin Lisa finished joint sixth on 219 alongside Lauren Taylor (Woburn) who won the Best Under-18 award on a scorecard countback.
"It's disappointing but we are learning all the time. People forget that," said Leona.
McVeigh and Leona Maguire (pictured above right by Cal Carson Golf Agency) won the international team event for Ireland .
The GB&I Curtis Cup team will be named on Monday afternoon.
It is certain to include McVeigh and the Maguire twins.
FINAL TOTALS
First two rounds Troon Portland, third round Royal Troon.
Par 225 (3x75)
215 Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down Ladies) 70 71 74.
217 Nikki Foster (Pleasington) 67 71 79.
218 Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 74 71 73, Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) 72 72 74, Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 67 71 80.
219 Lauren Taylor (Woburn) 75 71 73, Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) 74 71 74, Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) 69 75 75.
220 Jane Turner (Craigielaw) 74 72 74, Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) 76 69 75.
221 Rachael Watton(Mortonhall) 75 74 72.
222 Laura Murray (Alford) 75 74 73, Gillian O'Leary (Cork) 72 75 75, Emma Brown (Malton & Norton) 71 75 76.
224 Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) 78 76 70, Anjelika Hammar (Sweden) 76 71 77.
226 Gemma Bradbury (Cottrell Park) 76 72 78, Lucy Williams (Mid Herts) 70 77 79, Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) 72 73 81.
227 Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) 79 74 74, Tara Davies (Holyhead) 77 74 76, Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park) 74 76 77, Alyson McKechin (Eldereslie) 78 70 79, Lisa Ball (Matfen Hall) 75 75 77.
228 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 78 76 70, Charlotte Wild (Mere) 74 79 75, Jess Wilcox (Blankney) 77 74 77, Laura Collin (John O'Gaunt) 76 74 78, Sian James (Bristol & Clifton) 75 73 80.
229 Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze) 81 70 78.
230 Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) 76 79 75, Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies) 76 76 78, Amy Boulden (Maesdu) 77 74 79.
231 Becky Harries (Haverfordwest) 78 76 77, Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 75 77 79, Kelly Brotherton (Troon Welbeck) 75 76 80.
232 Emma Sheffield (Newark) 77 79 76, Susan Jackson (Ladybank) 77 79 76, Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey) 78 78 76, Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) 81 74 77, Samantha Birks (Wolstanton) 79 72 81, Aedin Murphy (Carlow) 77 73 82.
233 Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) 76 80 77, Bethany Garton (Royal Lytham) 79 77 77, Rebecca Wilson (Grange) 77 78 78, Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 75 76 82.
234 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 78 77 79, Naomi Edwards (Ganton) 73 76 85.
235 Rebecca Gee (Wellingborough) 81 75 79, Rachael Taylor (Hartl Golf Resort, Germany) 79 76 80.
236 Maura Diamond (Royal Portrush) 77 78 81.
237 Sarah Garbutt (Ganton) 77 81 79, Charlene Reid (Royal Portrush) 81 76 80, Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) 79 76 82.
238 Josephine Janson (Sweden) 79 79 80.
239 Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) 82 80 77, Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 83 79 77, Stephanie McEvoy (Old Fold Manor) 76 79 84.
243 Ciara Butler (Newlands) 84 80 79, Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 80 80 83, Karen O'Neill (Douglas) 81 73 89.
244 Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) 82 77 85.
245 Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus) 79 81 85.
247 Lesley Atkins (Gullane) 82 82 83.
248 Samantha Leslie (Westhill) 86 81 81, Hannah Grant (Enmore Park) 80 76 92.
249 Bronwyn Davies (Trentham) 81 85 83, Lucy Simpson (Massereene) 80 81 88.
INTERNATIONAL TEAM EVENT



434 IRELAND (Danielle McVeigh 215, Leona Maguire 219).



445 ENGLAND (Hannah Barwood 218, Holly Clyburn 227, Hannah Barwood).



449 SCOTLAND (Louise Kenney 218, Pamela Pretswell 231).



457 WALES (Tara Davies 227, Amy Boulden 230).



Labels: