Results: Irish Women's Close Championship Results

You know, I would say that of all the 'big' parkland courses, Fota Island is one of the easier tracks. It's not designed to be really punishing (although the rough can change that easily enough) and that makes it a more enjoyable and relaxing round of golf. But anyone who can pick up 6 birdies in the first 8 holes is just embarrassing the course. I doubt it was done during the Irish Open years in Cork, and here's a 14 year old girl tearing the place to shreds and winning the final of the Irish Women's Close Championship Results, 5 & 4. Congratulations Lisa Maguire.


LANCÔME IRISH WOMEN’S CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP
FOTA ISLAND RESORT
16 – 20 MAY 2009
LISA MAGUIRE WINS LANCÔME IRISH WOMEN’S CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP

20th May 2009

Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) defeated Mary Dowling (New Ross) by a 5&4 margin in this afternoon’s thrilling final of the Lancôme Irish Women’s Close in Fota Island Golf.
14 year old Lisa Maguire gave an exhibition of golf throughout the final and Mary Dowling could do little to halt her charge. Birdies on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th 7th and 8th saw Lisa play the opening eight holes in a phenomenal 6 under par. Mary produced birdies at the 8th and 9th but found herself 4 down at the turn despite being 2 under par for the first 9 holes. Lisa’s only fault of the day came at the 11th hole where she missed a 6 ft putt for par, however solid pars for the remaining holes saw her seal victory on the 14th hole, to lift the trophy for the first time in her career.
The opening hole of the Championship final was halved in regulation par 5s by both competitors. The short par 5 2nd, saw Lisa begin her run of birdies with a chip that threatened to drop for eagle but birdie proved enough to win the hole after Mary failed to get up and down from the front right of the green. Lisa then hit her tee shot to 8ft on the par 3, 3rd and was duly followed by Mary who was within 15ft. Mary’s downhill effort slid agonisingly past the hole, with Lisa holing to go 2 up.
The par 5, 4th was again won by Lisa thanks to a chip and putt for birdie which resulted in her storming into a 3up lead after just 4 holes. Dowling did well to half the long par 4 5th hole with a terrific chip and a well held 5ft putt for par. The 6th saw Mary miss the green left with her approach as did Lisa. A delicate chip, which looked like going in, resulted in par being conceded to Mary, before Lisa held her 30ft putt from the fringe of the green for birdie, to go 4 up. The 7th saw another blow dealt to Dowling’s title chances. Mary hit a magnificent approach shot to 8ft before Lisa played into 12 ft, however, the glimmer of hope was dashed when Lisa sank her downhill left to right putt and with Mary failing to hole out she found herself 5 down. Dowling remained composed in the face of what can only be described as breath-taking golf by Lisa and after Lisa hit her tee shot to 25 ft at a tight front left pin over water on the par 3 8th, Mary showed her bravery and determination to play a her tee shot to within 15 ft of the hole. Lisa once again held her putt but was followed in by Mary to half the hole, much to the delight of the gallery who were amazed to be witnessing such a display of golf. A downhill right to left putt for birdie on the 9th saw Mary win back her first hole of the morning and make the turn at 4 down. At this point Lisa was 6 under par and had hit just 11 putts on the front 9.
A bogey 5 on the 10th, after missing the green right and failing to get up and down from the green side bunker, saw Mary returning to 5 down, however this was cancelled out when Lisa made her only mistake of the day, missing a 5ft putt for par on the 11th. The par 3 12th was halved in pars before a 3 putt bogey on the par 5 13th by Mary, lead to Lisa going dormie 5 up. Mary continued to battle and played her pitch to 15ft on the par 5 14th, this gave her a chance to extend the match after Lisa made a solid regulation par. Mary’s effort failed to find the bottom of the cup and Lisa Maguire sealed victory by a 5&4 margin.

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