LISA AND LEONA BOUND FOR UNITED STATES COLLEGE IN AUTUMN

MAGUIRE TWINS SIGN UP FOR DUKE

UNIVERSITY, NORTH CAROLINA

 Lisa and Leona ... or it could be Leona and Lisa Maguire. Winners for Ireland of the international team trophy at the 2011 Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Troon.
                                           Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency

NEWS RELEASE

 

DURHAM, North Carolina– Duke University women’s golf head coach Dan Brooks announced on Tuesday the signing of Leona and Lisa Maguire of Cavan, Ireland to a national letter of intent to attend Duke in the autumn of 2014.

“Lisa and Leona have been stars on the European scene for several years,” said Brooks.  “Both have played in Curtis Cups already. They are hard workers, both in the classroom and in golf. 

"It’s clear to me that they want the whole package -- a degree from Duke, a chance to develop their games individually, and a great team experience.  I can’t wait for them to join us!”

The sisters will enter Duke with a very impressive international resume.  Leona is a winner of 20 amateur titles and has already played in the 2010 and 2012 Curtis Cup as a member of the Great Britain and Ireland squad.  

Lisa is a two-time member of the European Junior Solheim Cup team in 2009 and 2011, played on the Great Britain and Ireland  Curtis Cup squad in 2010 and was the 2011 European Ladies Amateur and Spanish Ladies Amateur champion. 

“Because they are identical twins, both playing golf at a high level, it has been difficult for me to distinguish between the two,” commented Brooks.  “I admit to not having spent a lot of individual time with each of them. From what I have gleaned so far, Lisa is the slightly more gregarious of the two. What I know for sure is that each will have ample opportunity, at Duke, to thrive and grow as an individual. It will be fun to be part of their growth over the four years.”

With the addition of the Maguire sisters along with fellow signee Gurbani Singh for the fall of 2014, the Blue Devils will feature a roster of nine for the 2014-15 campaign that will include returning letter winners Irene Jung, Celine Boutier, Yi Xiao, Yu Liu, Sandy Choi and Esther Lee.  

Brooks’ roster will feature student-athletes from all over the world including, France, Canada, India, Ireland, two from China and two from California. 

“Obviously losing Laetitia [Beck] and Alejandra [Cangrejo] will be high-impact,” said Brooks.  “Those two have been a force on this team and of course losing them will be difficult.  But I can’t imagine three people more suited for our program than Gurbani, Lisa and Leona.  That’s how it is in recruiting -- you lose great people and you bring great people in.”

 

SPOTLIGHT ON THE MAGUIRE TWINS

Leona Maguire

5-6      Ballyconnell,  Co  Cavan, Ireland 
Loreto College student, Coleraine. 
Member of Slieve Russell Golf Club.
Date of birth: November 30, 1994

High school/Prep:

A three-time winner of All-Ireland Schools Champion … ranked as high as sixth in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (2011) … winner of 20 amateur titles … member of the Irish National Team since 2007 … winner of Hermitage Scratch Cup in 2013 … advanced to the second round of match play at the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur … became the first Irish golfer to win the Irish Girls Open Stroke Play championship in 2012, beating the International field by eight shots … won Irish Women’s Stroke Play Championship for second consecutive year in 2012 … in 2012, was part of the Great Britain and Ireland team in the Curtis Cup that beat the United States by a score of 10.5-9.5 … won 2011 Portuguese Women’s Amateur Open by 15 strokes with a final round of 68 … won the Nations Cup with twin sister Lisa at the Portuguese Women’s Amateur Open … became the youngest player in history to win the British Ladies’ Open Stroke Play in 2011, winning by six shots … the 2011 Irish Women’s stroke play champion … became the youngest player (along with her sister Lisa) to compete in the Curtis Cup as part of the Great Britain and Ireland team in 2010 … competed in the 2009 and 2011 Junior Solheim Cup on the European squad … the 2009 and 2010 French U21 Champion … member of the 2008 European Junior Ryder Cup team … the 2008 and 2012 winner of the Irish Women’s Close Championship … was the European Girls Team Championship winner in 2009 … won the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Amateur Stroke Play at 14 years old in 2009.

 

Personal:
Full name is Leona Maguire … born November 30, 1994 in Cavan, Ireland … daughter of schoolteachers Declan and Breda Maguire … has one twin sister, Lisa (18) … has one brother, Odhran (12) .

 

Lisa Maguire

5-6      Ballyconnell,  Co  Cavan, Ireland 
Loreto College student, Coleraine. 
Member of Slieve Russell Golf Club.
Date of birth: November 30, 1994

A three-time All-Ireland School’s Champion … ranked as high as 35^th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (2011) … member of the Irish Women’s High Performance Squad and the Ulster Women’s High Performance Squad since 2007 … winner of 2013 Irish Women’s Order of Merit … runner-up in the 2013 Irish Women’s Amateur … two-time member of the European Junior Solheim Cup team (2009, 2011) … won the2011 European Ladies Amateur and Spanish Ladies Amateur… member of the Great Britain and Ireland squad at the 2010 Curtis Cup … won the 2009 Irish Women’s Amateur and Irish Women’s Amateur Stroke play champion … played for Great Britain and Ireland in the 2009 and 2011 Vagliano Trophy … was the 2008 Irish Girl’s Champion … member of the 2008 European Junior Ryder Cup Team … champion of the European U16 Tournament.

 

Personal:
Full name is Lisa Maguire … born November 30, 1994 in Cavan, Ireland … daughter of schoolteachers Declan and Breda Maguire … has one twin sister, Leona (18) … has one brother, Odhran (12).

 

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Lindy Brown

Associate Sports Information Director

Duke University

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