Stunning prospect

Rebecca Coakley left a quality field trailing in her wake when she put together one of the most stunning performances of the year to capture the 36-hole Irish Pride Curragh Scratch Cup last Saturday.

The 19-year-old scorched around in nine under par in the morning round, clipping two shots off the previous course record of 65 held by Lillian Behan. As if that wasn't enough she matched the old mark in the afternoon when her round was highlighted by an albatross two. With a shotgun start in operation, Coakley played the first as her 16th and she covered the 465 yards par five with a drive and a five-iron.

`The event wasn't held last year due to a lack of entries but we rectified that this time and Rebecca's performance meant that there was a brilliant buzz about the place', beamed tournament organiser Mary Young.

Coakley's 16 under-par total gave her a 14-shot margin over Behan with Sinead Keane and Hazel Kavanagh filling the minor places.

You may not have heard of Coakley before but you can expect to hear of her again. She has grown up in Australia but spends the summer holidays playing out of Carlow. She is the current South Australian amateur champion and is ranked seven in the country. She also reached the last 16 of the recent British amateur championship before going out to the eventual winner, Rebecca Hudson.

The good news for the Irish selectors is that the Coakley family intend moving home at the end of the year and Rebecca's dream is to play international golf for Ireland. Her arrival will surely create some welcome excitement in the women's amateur scene.