GOLF NEWS:LEONA MAGUIRE, from the Slieve Russell Club, won her second Irish Ladies Close title in four years when she beat Curtis Cup team-mate Stephanie Meadow from Royal Portrush by two holes in the final at Co Louth GC yesterday.
Maguire got off to the perfect start, winning the first two holes, but was back to level at the turn after Meadow won the seventh and the ninth.
Maguire forged ahead again at the 11th and went two clear with a par at the 15th. Meadow hit back with a win on 17 but Maguire took the title when Meadow conceded on the 18th green.
Earlier, Lucy Simpson from Massereene felt the brunt of Meadow’s devastating iron play in the opening semi-final. Meadow birdied the fourth, seventh and ninth holes to turn four up and continued her form on the back nine to close out the match on the 13th.
Carla Reynolds from Seapoint punched well above her weight in her semi-final with Maguire. Reynolds took an early lead but turned one down after Maguire birdied the fifth and sixth holes.
Maguire played steady golf on the back nine to get home with a 3 and 1 victory.
IRISH LADIES CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP (Co Louth)
Semi-finals: Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) bt Lucy Simpson (Massereene) 6 and 5; Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) bt Carla Reynolds (Seapoint) 3 and 1.
Final: Maguire bt Meadow 2 holes.
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