JULIE McCARTHY WINS IRISH UNDER-18 GIRLS' FINAL

Julie McCarthy receives the championship trophy from Mary McKenna, the Irish Ladies Golf  Union President. Picture from the ILGU website

NEWS RELEASE FROM IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION 
Julie McCarthy (Forrest Little) defeated Olivia Mehaffey (Royal County Down Ladies) by 3 and 2 in the final of the Irish Under-18 girls' close championship at Ballyliffin Golf Club today.
Julie showed no signs of nerves as she got off to a perfect start against “favourite on paper” Olivia, a GB and I Junior Vagliano Trophy team player last month, and was three up after only four  holes which included an eagle at the third.  
Olivia won the seventh to reduce the deficit to 2 holes and then drove the 288yd par 4 eighth hole for a second success in a row.
Julie, not to be outdone, hit a rescue club off the ninth tee and again off the fairway to 10ft and duly sank the putt for a birdie. She went on to win the 10th with yet another birdie. 

The 11th was halved with great recovery work from Julie. She was in the rough with her drive, then in the greenside bunker but managed a brilliant up and down to save par.  

The par 3 12th was again halved in pars.  Olivia then sank a 25ft birdie putt on the 13th to get it back to a two-hole deficit and she played the 14th well to force Julie to concede the hole.

However, the tide turned again and Julie won the 15th with par to go two up once more.  The par 4 16th saw both players on the green with two shots.  Olivia was  first to putt and left it about 3 ft short, Julie putted just past the pin, Olivia missed her par putt and conceded Julie’s short putt and consequently the match and the Blake Cup by 3 and 2.
Caitriona Griffin beat her Killarney clubmate, 12 year old Valerie Clancy by 3 and 2 in the final of the Pat Fletcher (Plate) trophy. Today's results

CHAMPIONSHIP - Blake Cup

Semi-finals - Olivia Mehaffey (Royal Co Down Ladies) bt Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe) 2 and 1, Julie McCarthy (Forrest Little) bt Mary Doyle (The Heath) 2 and 1.

Final - McCarthy bt Mehaffey 3 and 2.

PAT FLETCHER TROPHY (Plate)

Semi-finals - Blaithin O'Brien (Roscommon) lost to Caitriona Griffin (Killarney) bt Blaithin O'Brien (Roscommon) 2 and 1,

Valerie Clancy (Killarney) bt Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) 2 holes.

Final - Griffin bt Clancy 3 and 2.

 

 

Sandra Barnett

Irish Ladies Golf Union

103-105 Q House, 76 Furze Road

Sandyford Industrial Estate

Dublin 18

Tel: 01 2934833 Fax: 01 2934832 W: www.ilgu.ie, E sandra@ilgu.ie