Terrific two have class on all fronts

GOLF - THE MAGUIRE TWINS:Finding a balance between work, rest, play and book study is perhaps the biggest challenge facing Cavan's brilliant young siblings, writes Johnny Watterson.

THERE WAS little doubt about who the small gathering at the 18th green in Milltown Golf Club on Monday morning had come to watch. The 2008 Suzuki Schools Cup Final for girls does not usually send a ripple through the great and good of Churchtown and its Co Dublin hinterland. But with the Cavan sisters Lisa and Leona Maguire involved, there is seldom anything other than attention following.

The twins have been carving a niche for themselves these past several years. At 13 years of age and playing in the under-19 event for the first time, the scratch (Lisa) and one-handicap (Leona) golfers have been trying to combine a life of school and sport they hope ticks the boxes that keep both tracks parallel.

Just back from the French underage championships at St Cloud, Leona astonishingly claimed a first in the under-18 event when she beat Germany's Valentine Gevers, and Lisa was beaten on the 18th hole of her semi-final by the English Curtis Cup reserve Rachael Jennings, who went on to win the under-21 title.

All that and the two really just coming out of an Irish winter of relative golf hibernation.

The irony is that life is probably harder for the two now combining full-time school work with golf than it will be if they decide to leave school when their parents feel it appropriate.

Not only is the workload of golf and study increasingly demanding but the girls must remain in Ireland for a dark and wet winter that greatly curtails their freedom to practise at any time other than weekends.

With two such glittering young talents, the balancing act is a difficult one.

"Leona is just coming back. She was playing too much golf and she overstretched her back," says their father, Declan.

"It has been one of the coldest winters and even in France it was very cold and wet. Combine that with pulling trolleys over there . . . they'd no power trolleys because of rules . . . And they didn't have a caddy either. It was a physical thing. They are still only 13. They are still only growing. I think the important thing is that they don't get too much golf.

"Schoolwise they leave the house at five to eight in the morning and are not home until a quarter to five. Then there's probably two hours' homework on top of that.

"School really keeps them busy and they put a lot of work into it. Most of the golf they do is at weekends, even at the moment. They haven't really had that many competitive rounds so they probably won't play their best golf until the summer."

The girls have been working with David Kearney of the ILGU and also Shane O'Grady in Blackbush, who have been advising them on what they should and should not do. The issue of burnout, which had a large impact in women's tennis and forced the World Tennis Federation (WTA) to change the rules governing girls under 16, is something of which all of those monitoring the twins are aware.

"David Kearney is very conscious of it and advises the girls on what they should do," says Declan. "But yes, the Irish winter really makes it difficult. That's where the lack of indoor facilities comes into it. That probably is a drawback. We were at a tournament and were told that the Finnish and Danish girl and the girl from Sweden did a lot of their work in indoor facilities.

"The Norwegian team have an airport hangar, so they do a lot of work there. They can actually hit balls and have areas where they can work on their short game. That would be key for Lisa and Leona if they had indoor facilities."

The question of turning professional has been in the air ever since the two entered the Irish Close Championships as 11-year-olds. At that time, their conversion from top-class swimmers to precocious golfers had brought their handicaps below the 12 required for entry to the competition. Lisa was 9.2 and Leona 12.

From there, cameras have followed. But because of strict amateur rules they are not allowed avail of sponsorship. No doubt there is a queue forming - but it can happen only if and when they turn professional.

"Unfortunately they can't get sponsorship now," says their father. "It's part of the amateur thing. They are not allowed until they turn pro. That's the reality of it so you have to play with what's there."

For now at least both girls are punching far above their weight and age, as their foray into the French Championships showed. Lisa did have chances against Jennings and the match could easily have fallen her way. Being 13 probably was a factor.

"They wouldn't have any fear of those girls over in Europe," adds Declan. "Long term they need to grow, they need to get stronger, they need to get better.

"Their short game needs to get better. I think in the semi-final with Lisa, the other girl had a bit more experience and that told in the end. And that will come. You can't teach that. I think Lisa might learn more from losing than from maybe winning all the time."

In Milltown there were few surprises and the small grouping didn't depart disappointed. Lisa and Leona created another first by winning the 18-hole strokeplay Cup Final for Loreto Cavan.

The two had the lowest aggregate score, Lisa recording a 74 and with it winning the Mary Nowlan Trophy for best score of the day. Leona, a little bit off with her short game, carded an 84.

Next stop for the unassuming twins, dressed head to toe in almost identical Ping gear, is . . . well, exams are coming up.

Roll on the summer holidays!