Kavanagh finishes the week in style

IF hardly considered a renaissance of epic proportions, Hazel Kavanagh's victory in the Leinster Women's Championship sponsored by MacGregor at Seapoint yestcrday cerlainly markcd a new beginning for the 24 year old Grange golfer.

"It's nice to be back and I just intend to enjoy myself this season without setting any wild targets," conceded Kavanagh, who signalled a return to something like her old form by, firstly, beating the holder, Suzanne Fanagan, in yesterday's semi final, and then securing a two and one win over Sinead Keane, of the Curragh, in the final.

The victory completed a fine week's work for Kavanagh, who also claimed the Josephine Connolly Memorial Salver as leading qualifier.

Kavanagh, who was considered a possible Curtis Cup representative after her Irish Open - strokeplay win in 1994, previously won this title in 1995, but has endured a self confessed "miserable time" in the interim. Still, she was able to fly out to Royal Troon today (along with the vanquished Keane in a six woman Irish team for this weekend's Scottish Open) in the belief that the tide has well and truly turned.

"My confidence is back, it's almost as simple as that," said Kavanagh, who enjoyed the sort of birdie blitz start to the final which would have deflated many an opponent. She was three up after three holes, thanks to three successive birdies (the longest from 30 feet at the third), and retained that advantage to the turn.

Keane, a 25 year old computer technician, refused to throw in the towel, however. "I felt under pressure approaching the turn, but when my caddie sat on the trolley car at the seventh, and actually broke it, that lightened things up for me and allowed me to relax."

Her caddie was, in fact, Elaine Dowdall, the player she'd defeated in the semi final at the 20th earlier in the day; but an indication of the spirit which exists in the women's game is that the Wexford golfer offered to caddie in the afternoon final, and the offer was readily accepted.

Keane enacted a concerted fightback and won the 10th and 11th holes to reduce the deficit to one hole. Kavanagh rattled in a 35 footer for a birdie on the undulating 14th green to restore the two hole lead. But, in tit for tat fashion, Keane flighted a wedge tee shot for a tap in birdie at the 127 yard par three 15th to be one down again.

However, Kavanagh was steadiness personified in etching out a winning par four at the 16th, and was conceded the match on the 17th.