Practice pays off for Carter

The stunning vista of the lakes and mountains that border Mahony's Point, one of Killarney Golf Club's superbly appointed courses, provided a spectacular backdrop to the Irish Times/ Mitsubishi Motors Ladies Masters tournament final. The splendour of the setting proved appropriate given the magnificent golf conjured by the top three finishers in a field of 12 finalists.

On most other days Roscommon's Serena McNamara would have strolled away with first prize, the 18 handicapper mustering a superb 43 points on her first visit to the Kerry venue. That she could only manage second place would have been disappointing were is not for the fact that she trailed the winner by a staggering 12 points.

Jean Carter, as she had managed in the semi-final at Glasson - she won at the Athlone venue with 35 points - led home the elite field with a jaw-dropping 55 points. Playing off a 30 handicap, the 23-year-old trainee computer programmer with Glanbia in Portlaoise negotiated the Mahony's Point course in 11 over the card, 19 shots under her handicap.

Carter attributed her success not only to a period of intensive practice between the semi-final and final but to arriving at the course the day before the event in the company of her father, Cecil. "We drove down the day before and I played 18 holes in heavy rain that afternoon," she said.

The discomfort of playing in the inclement conditions paled when one considers that Cater amassed 54 points during her practice round. "I really enjoyed playing the course and the funny thing is that I thought I could do better in the competition."

Well she did, and while a single point doesn't seem a great deal, it certainly is when considering the two totals. One must also point out, for the benefit of any handicap secretary tearing their hair out, that Carter is a novice golfer, having only taken up the game seriously last March: her feat while improbable is therefore understandable.

Since March and with the benefit of Friday's performance, she will have shorn her handicap by 12 shots, from 34 to 22. There is little doubt that with even a modicum of improvement single figures beckon within the next six to 12 months. Her brother Stuart has recently been cut to scratch, father Cecil plays off five while Breda, her mother, boasts the lowest handicap (11) amongst the ladies at Mountrath. It is the latter landmark that Jean has targeted and her mother believes that she won't be able to fend her off over the coming year.

The Irish Times/Mitsubishi Motors Ladies Masters champion admitted: "I just want to have a respectable handicap. I'm delighted that the shots have fallen off and I want to try and beat my mother's mark. "Dad volunteered to caddy for me and although he didn't say much, he did make a few suggestions during the practice round." So what does it feel like to have 27 points after nine holes? "I knew I was doing well, but had no idea it was that well. Dad didn't tell me, just said to keep going. I was a little tired."

Carter produced an even better score on the back nine (28 points) and that included a birdie on the par five 11th. "I was on in two. I hit a drive and five wood and left my eagle putt beside the hole. I just enjoyed myself so much, it's a magnificent golf course." Second-placed Serena McNamara has only been playing for three years and the former camogie player is surely destined to drop significantly from her handicap of 18. The Roscommon golfer birdied the first and the ninth for 23 points and then managed a further 20 on the inward journey including a blank at the par-five 16th.

She owes her second place to wonderful par at the 18th. Her tee shot missed the green at the par three but she chipped to 10 feet and holed the putt to edge out Niamh Giblin (10) by a single point. The Dun Laoghaire golfer probably produced the best golf of the final, shooting a four over par gross 75 for 42 points.

Playing with McNamara she could have been forgiven for thinking that the outcome of the competition rested on their head-to-head. "I knew Serena had 23 points on the front and I had 21. I knew that it was tight but not that tight."

Giblin struck a fine six iron to 12 feet at the last but missed the birdie putt and relegated herself to third place.

The Guinness employee, by her own admission played "quite well" her driving the only bugbear. Bolstered by two decades of golfing experience and having once played off four, Giblin conceded that she doesn't practice often. The Summer Thursday competitions satisfy her ambition.

She paid a generous tribute to Carter. "I think it is one of those once-in-a-lifetime scores, exceptional. It sounds like she's going to be a very good golfer and will hit single figures soon. She is obviously dedicated in her practice and got her reward."

Over 700 entries were initially received from 134 golf clubs: the sponsors are confident that this tournament, which recognises lady golfers exclusively, can grow in prestige and importance on the golfing calendar.

ROLL OF HONOUR: J Carter (Mountrath) (30) 55pts; S McNamara (Roscommon) (18) 43pts; N Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) (10) 42pts. Front nine: O Waters (Athenry). Back nine: A O'Reilly (Wicklow). Nearest the pin (18th): A Banville (Enniscorthy) 10 feet, 7 inches. Longest drive: A O'Reilly (Wicklow).