Maguire destroys the field

GOLF/BRITISH WOMEN'S OPEN STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP:LEONA MAGUIRE stormed to the Women's British Open Stroke-play title in sensational fashion yesterday at sunny Royal Ashdown Forest in East Sussex.

Two strokes off the pace at halfway overnight, the 16-year-old Curtis Cup player from Slieve Russell in County Cavan demolished the field with two breathtaking rounds to win by an amazing six strokes.

Up until yesterday no-one had broken par on this ferocious parkland course but Maguire did it twice on the final day to pulverise the opposition.

This is not the first time this diminutive plus five handicapper has taken a field apart – she cantered to a 15-stroke success in the Portuguese Open Championship in Lisbon in January.

Her third round 69 with halves of 34 and 35 was brilliantly compiled,her highlight being an eagle three on the 477-yard fifth hole- and it put her a commanding five strokes clear with one round remaining.

And she repeated the feat in the afternoon again with halves of 34 and 35. Maguire started and finished with birdie threes – and in neither round did she card a six.

In the end the Cavan teenager posted a 72-hole aggregate of level par 288 winning by six strokes from Belgium’s Laurence Herman who also carded a closing 69.

“Today I played well and everything seemed to go right,” said Maguire whose sister Lisa failed to survive the halfway cut here at Royal Ashdown Forest less than a month after winning the European title.

Wellington’s Meghan MacLaren was third on 296 with teenage Welsh international Amy Boulden, runner-up last year, in fourth a further stroke back.

Charlene Reid of Royal Portrush moved up the leaderboard with a third round 72 but a disappointing 81 yesterday afternoon dropped her down again and she finished on 308 in joint 21st place.

Sarah Cunningham of Ennis had two 78s yesterday to end on 313 in joint 32nd place.