DANIELLE McVEIGH WINS IRISH CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE 19th

Proud moment for Danielle McVeigh (left) as she receives the Irish women's amateur championship trophy. Beaten finalist Karen Delaney is on the wide left. Image by courtesy of the Irish Ladies Golf Union website.

KAREN DELANEY FOUR UP AFTER ONLY FIVE HOLES ...

Curtis Cup player Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down Ladies) beat Karen Delaney (Carlow) at the 19th hole today in the final of the Lancome Irish women's close amateur championship at Carlow Golf Club.
Winning the Irish title for a first time represented a great fightback by 23-year-old Danielle, pictured left by Cal Carson Golf Agency, a student at the University of Ireland Maynooth. She was four down after seven holes to 26-year-old Karen, winner of the title in 2007.
At the first extra hole, a par-5, Danielle hit a very long drive down the middle of the fairway. She hit the green with her second, the ball coming to rest 40ft short of the flagstick. She putted up to 4ft and sank the putt for a title-winning birdie. Delaney won the first (birdie) , second, fourth and fifth (birdie) to go four up very quickly on a nervous-looking opponent.
McVeigh got into the game with a winning birdie at the eighth and built on that. She won the ninth and 12th with pars and then the short 13th with a birdie 2 to square the contest.
Delaney regained the lead with a birdie at the long 14th and a par at the the 15th.
McVeigh was under severe pressure at two down with two do play but she won the 17th with par as Delaney was bunkered. Then McVeigh birdied the last to take the final down the 19th.