KirkwoodGolf: Patience, Persistence and Perseverance secure Curtis Cup for Dunne

Maria Dunne – Player Profile

Patience, Persistence and Perseverance secure Curtis Cup for Dunne

1^st June 2016

Curtis Cup; the highest level of female amateur golf to be achieved. A goal for many but reached by so few. Skerries golfer Maria Dunne, can gratefully tick that achievement off her list.

Nine days before the GB&I side take on team USA in the 39^th Curtis Cup match at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club, the GB&I rookie shared her excitement with us. Dunne set Curtis Cup as a realistic goal about two years ago when she finished runner-up in the South American Amateur Championship, stating “I was watching and playing with Curtis Cup players there and knew I was every bit as good as them. My coach Roger Yates told me I could make it and he’s not one to lie, so when he said it I knew it could happen.”

The Skerries member has always been a consistent golfer but something changed a few years back when her talents reached a new height. She credits Yates for instilling her with the belief she was good enough, adding “I had a chat with Roger about five years ago regarding what I wanted to achieve long term. He asked me if I was willing to work hard enough and I said yes so it was just forward thinking from there.”

Viewed as a leader among her Irish teammates, Dunne shared her thoughts on what kind of role she will be playing on the GB&I side, “By nature I might be seen as a leader, unfortunately because of my age’, she laughed. ‘I am a good team player and have a positive attitude so I just hope to be a good role model.”

Dunne reveals that the first tee shot is what she is looking forward to most, commenting “I will probably be quite nervous but I think that’s normal. I enjoy crowds and tend to play better when there is a big following.”

Putting has been a focus for her over the last number of years, and she explained why, “Roger and I identified it as the weak link in my game so I have been working closely with PGA Professional Sue Bamford and ILGU High Performance Coach Donal Scott on trying to improve my performance in this area.”

Between now and the Curtis Cup match Maria intends to focus on fitness, adding “I haven’t had a tournament in the last few weeks so I’m trying to resume my fitness regime before Dun Laoghaire. Dunne credits her supportive husband Bryan, alongside her understanding employers, Kinsealy Grange Golf Centre with her ability to dedicate so much time to the game, “I couldn’t do it without Bryan or the flexibility work allows me so I’m very lucky.”

Asked where she could see herself in five years’ time, Dunne smiles and shakes her head, “I have no idea.” However we have no doubt that Maria will continue to pave the way for junior girls and up and coming golfers into the future. A role model by name and by nature.

Kind regards,

Sarah Crowe | Public Relations

Irish Ladies Golf Union

103-105 Q House | 76 Furze Road

Sandyford Industrial Estate | Dublin 18 | Ireland

T +353 (0)1 2934833 | F +353 (0)1 2934832 | E sarah@ilgu.ie