MAGUIRE TWINS TO ENROL AT DUKE UNIVERSITY, NORTH CAROLINA

STEPH MEADOW GETS A PLACE IN US 

WOMEN'S OPEN AT PINEHURST

FROM THE IRISH GOLF DESK

Royal Portrush's Stephanie Meadow has clinched a place in next month's US Women's Open at Pinehurst from June 19-22.
The University of Alabama star, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, named as the 2014 Elite 89 Award recipient for the 2014 NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championships last week, got in as an alternate today, finished third in a Sectional Qualifier at Oak Valley Golf Course in California on May 14.

Before she gets to Pinehurst, Meadow will tee it up for Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup at St Louis Country Club in Missouri next week (June 6-8).
The Ulster star, after four outstanding years at the University of Alabama, said goodbye to her collegiate golf career in the NCAA Division 1 finals held at the Tulsa Country Club in Oklahoma last week, finishing tied fourth in the individual standings.

But as defending champions, her University of Alabama team could only finish sixth behind winners Duke, who will take in new scholarship students Lisa and Leona Maguire in August (pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency) from Slieve Russell later this year (Scroll down for more on that topic).
As for Meadow, she is ranked seventh in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and clearly a talented student too.
The Elite 89 award she received was founded by the NCAA  and presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the NCAA finals.
Meadow was competing in her fourth NCAA Championships after a season that brought two tournament victories, taking her Alabama career tally to a record nine.

LISA AND LEONA MAGUIRE TO JOIN

COLLEGE CHAMPS DUKE UNIVERSITY

FROM THE SLIEVE RUSSELL CLUB WEBSITE
Slieve Russell twins Lisa and Leona Maguire have signed letters of intent to play for Duke University in North Carolina in August
Women’s golf head coach Dan Brooks said: “Lisa and Leona have been stars on the European scene for several years. 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!
"Lisa is a two-time member of the European Junior Solheim Cup team in 2009 and 2011, played on the Great Britain and Ireland U.S. 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.
"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.”
Duke has also signed India's Gurbani Singh to join the Maguires and current squad members Irene Jung, Celine Boutier, Yi Xiao, Yu Liu, Sandy Choi and Esther Lee for the 2014-2015 US college season.
 +Leona played in the winning GB and I Curtis Cup team two years ago at Nairn but declined to be considered for selection for next week's match due to studies. The Maguires' parents are both schoolteachers.