Mary Dowling with the championship trophy in a picture postcard setting at Portstewart, Northern Ireland (image by courtesy of the Irish Ladies Golf Union and Pat Cashman Photography).

Mary Dowling beats Leona Maguire to win Irish women's title

Mary Dowling (New Ross) is the new, first-time Lancome Irish women's (closed) amateur champion.
She upset the form book and the pundits by beating the 15-year-old Curtis Cup team selection, Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) by holing a birdie putt across the 18th green for a one-hole victory in the final at Portstewart Golf Club today.
HERE'S HOW THE ACTION WENT
Mary Dowling got off to a great start with a birdie 3 on the 400yd first hole and parred the 2nd, 3rd and 4th to see her 2 up thru 4.
On the fifth Leona was unlucky to miss the green and Mary had a superb two-putt on a two-tier green with the pin at the back. Leona was unable to chip and putt for a half so Dowling went three up.
Leona won the sixth and seventh with pars and the eighth was halved in pars with Leona sinking a 12ft putt while Mary hit an iron from 165yds to 12 feet but missed the putt.
A strong cross wind on the ninth resulted in both players being right of the fairway - the hole was halved in bogeys.
Mary found a bunker on 10 and with an awkward stance took two to get out. Match now all square. Leona had a great birdie on the par 4, 312yd 11th hole to go ahead in the match for the first time.
Mary rescued a par on the par 5, 487yd 13th , hitting her third shot 200yds to the green for two putts. Leona still one up.
Leona birdied the 14th, sinking a 12ft putt to stretch her lead to two holes.
Mary won the short 15th with par, Leona finding the greenside bunker. Leona one up with three to play.
Match all square at the par-4 16th playing long into a strong wind . Leona found the greenside bunker with her second shot resulting in a bogey while Mary sank a 6ft putt for par.
The 17th hole was halved in pars. Match all square on the 18th tee.
Both players were just short of the green in two on the 18th. Mary chipped to eight feet, right of the bunker and Leona to 12 foot behind the pin. Leona putted 3ft past the pin. Mary was looking at a downhill right to left putt for the title and duly slotted it home to rapturous applause.
Sandra Barnett
Irish Ladies Golf Union