Golf

Leona Maguire secures Ladies’ British Amateur Championship

World amateur number one beats Spain’s Ainhoa Olarra 3&2 in south Wales final

Leona Maguire won the Ladies’ British Amateur Championship in south Wales on Saturday. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho

Sat Jun 17 2017 - 19:17

Leona Maguire secured one of the biggest victories of her career to date as she won the Ladies' British Amateur Championship on Saturday.

The world amateur number one beat Spain's Ainhoa Olarra 3&2 at Pyle & Kenfig golf course in South Wales, becoming the first Irish woman to win the event since Stephanie Meadow in 2012.

22-year-old Maguire got off to a flying start with a birdie on the opening hole, and four birdies on the front nine provided a lead which the game Olarra was unable to claw back.

Maguire's victory came after she had had beaten Lisburn's Paula Grant (4&2) in the last eight and Finland's Anna Backman in the semi-finals (3&2).

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On her victory, Maguire said: “It’s been a fantastic week and I’ve played some really great golf. It’s a real highlight of my career to have won the championship.

“It’s one of the biggest amateur events and one that I felt I hadn’t given as good a go as I could have done in the past few years. It’s great to get my name on the trophy alongside some of the biggest names.

“Ainhoa played really great golf and she pushed me all the way to the end. I knew I was going to have to play well. She threw all the birdies she could at me and I was glad I was able to rise to it.”

Duke University student Maguire will compete in next month’s US Women’s Open and the Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns in August.

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