GOLF SPANISH WOMEN'S OPEN:IRISH TEENAGE star Lisa Maguire was celebrating last night after being crowned Spanish Ladies Open Amateur Champion in Cadiz.
The 16-year-old Curtis Cup sensation from Slieve Russell lifted the title over the Sherry course at Jerez with a tense, last-green victory in the 18-hole final over Emilie Alonso of France.
In winning, Maguire gained revenge on behalf of her twin, Leona, the Portuguese champion who had been beaten by Alonso in the quarter-finals.
“I am absolutely thrilled. It was a terrific match and I really had to hold my nerve,” said Maguire.
There was never more than one hole between the finalists, but Maguire did not take the lead until the 361-metre 15th on which she got a birdie three.
Alonso had been one up with five to play, but the Cavan teenager won the 14th, where Alonso got into all sorts of trouble and conceded, and the 15th to grab the initiative.
She finished with three halves in par to become a worthy champion.
In the quarter-finals on Saturday, Maguire edged out England’s Holly Clyburn at the 21st, having never been ahead until that third extra hole.
The Irish twin was three down with seven to play, but won the 12th, 13th and 15th to square only to lose the 16th. But she squared at the 18th with a par four and a par was sufficient at the 21st for her to progress.
The semi-final was much easier, as she overwhelmed Antonia Scherer of Germany by 5 and 3 after being two up at the turn.
Leona Maguire went down 6 and 4 to Alonso.
This victory will set Maguire up for the season – and she is sure to figure prominently in international events in the summer.
Leona, who won the Portuguese Strokeplay in January, was number five in the women’s world amateur rankings which were released last week with Lisa at number 33.
Lisa is likely to be a lot closer to her twin after the revised rankings are issued next week.
The Spanish Men’s Open Championship at El Prat in Barcelona was won by Laurie Canter, who surprisingly overwhelmed Stiggy Hodgson in an all-English 36-hole final.
