SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR:THE 2009 season had already opened brightly for Leona Maguire, as the 14-year-old beat a field of internationals to win the Woodenbridge Scratch Cup with a course record-equalling five under par in March.
A fortnight later the Cavan teenager, a year after winning the under-18 event, triumphed at the French International Under-21 Amateur Championship, defeating Klara Spilkova of the Czech Republic at the 36th hole in the matchplay final.
That victory lifted her to the top of the European Junior Solheim Cup rankings, with two qualifying events to go – the European Ladies’ Team Championship in Slovenia and the European Girls’ Team Championship in Finland – before the team is selected for the event in Illinois in August.
Most impressively, though, Maguire made a quite spectacular debut in the prestigious Helen Holm Scottish Open Amateur Championship at Troon last month. She led from start to finish to become the youngest winner of the tournament which featured a top-class field that included several senior internationals. Among them was Carly Booth, the Scottish prodigy who, at 15, became the youngest player to represent Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup last year. She finished 11 shots behind Maguire.
One of Maguire’s closest challengers was, as is usually the case, her equally gifted twin sister, Lisa, who finished third.
Such is the progress they are making, both girls, who helped Ulster to a fifth successive win in the Interprovincials and led Loreto College, Cavan, to success in the Irish schools championships last month, are now serious contenders for a place in next year’s Curtis Cup team in Massachusetts, which would see them break Booth’s record.
Leona, who opened with a brilliant round of six-under-par 69, finished two shots clear of Scottish under-21 champion Kelsey MacDonald at Troon.
“I am absolutely thrilled,” she said. “I had never played either of the courses before I came to Troon a few days ago, but I like links golf. The weather wasn’t great, but I loved the tournament. I think my putting was the best part of my game over the three days. I holed a few good ones.”
Now, having won every event she has entered in 2009, Leona turns her attention to defending her Irish Ladies Close Championship title at Fota Island at the weekend. The competition will be fierce, not least from her twin.
Monthly awards so far
January: Jessica Kürten (Equestrian).
February:Mary Cullen (Athletics).
March:Nina Carberry (Horse racing) and Derval O'Rourke (Athletics).
* Each sportswoman is eligible for just one monthly award, but her achievements through the year will be taken into account by the judges when the overall winner is selected.
