Match this: 46 points off a five handicap

The fine weather over the long weekend helped to produce many low scores for club golfers around the country, but there was nothing…

The fine weather over the long weekend helped to produce many low scores for club golfers around the country, but there was nothing to compare with the hot streak enjoyed by Christine Armanasco in the Open events at Carne Links, Belmullet.

The five-handicap member of the Christy O'Connor Club notched up 44 points to win on Saturday and went two better on Sunday when she scorched around in five under par 68 to win again with 46 points. Having opened with two pars, Armanasco fired three birdies in-a-row and dropped her only shot at the ninth in an outward 23 points. Two birdies and seven pars on the back nine produced another 23.

The 28-year old Dublin-based Australian was back in Perth for five months over the winter and puts her stunning form down to hard practice at her home club, Royal Freemantle. Since returning here in March, her handicap has dropped from eight to four and she won't forget the Belmullet experience in a hurry.

"It was my lowest round ever," she said. "Links is the purest form of golf and I was really inspired by the course. I had been there two years ago in the wind and rain but this time the playing conditions were lovely. It felt like a different course and I had one of those days when I couldn't miss a putt.'