KirkwoodGolf

Thursday, March 22, 2007


IRISH EYES SMILING ON HAWAII AS
DANIELLE SCORES FIRST US WIN

Danielle McVeigh, the 2005 Irish girls’ champion from Kilkeel, Northern Ireland, has scored her first win on the United States’ women’s college golf circuit.
The occasion was the Donnis Thompson Invitational at Kaneohe Klipper Golf Club, Honolulu on Hawaii this week.
Danielle, a 6ft freshman (first-year) student at Texas A&M University – the Aggies – birdied two of her last three holes in the 54-hole tournament to tie with Gerina Mendoza (Texas El Paso) at the top of the leaderboard on one-over-par 217 for the 5,829yd, par-72 course.
Then Danielle, pictured above, rammed home yet another birdie putt, this one of some 15ft, for a winning birdie at the first sudden-death play-off hole.
Texas A&M women’s golf coach Joanne Sutherland said: “Danielle has been striking the ball well throughout the season. She’s been working hard on her putting and it’s been getting better and better. It’s great for her to see all the hard work pay off.”
The coach really had reasons to be cheerful because Danielle’s individual victory and terrific last round of three-under-par 69, enabled Texas A&M to come from behind to pip Arizona, the favourites, for the team title.
Miss McVeigh’s scores were 74, 74 and 69. Gerina Mendoza, who was five shots ahead of her Irish rival after 36 holes, scored 73, 70 and 74.
Danielle will be 20 on September 14.
Scotland international player Gemma Webster (Ohio State) finished joint 18th in a field of 73 with scores of 79, 75 and 78 for 232.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
217 Danielle McVeigh (Texas A&M) 74 74 69, Gerina Mendoza (Texas El Paso) 73 70 74. McVeigh won play-off at first extra hole.
221 Laura Fourdraine (Rollins) 75 73 73.
222 Alison Walshe (Arizona) 74 74 74.
223 Amanda Wilson (Arizona) 75 72 76.
Other score:
232 Gemma Webster (Ohio State) 79 75 78.
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
897 Texas A&M. 899 Arizona. 917 Brigham Youong. 9231 Rollins College. 924 Colorado State. 932 Ohio State. 12 teams took part.