Pinehurst the prize for lucky pair

The Irish Times/Red Bull Final 5 National finals: John O'Sullivan was very taken by the display of 12-year-old Jessica Carty at Glasson, who qualified for the grand final but school came first

European Individual Strokeplay champion Rory McIlroy isn't the only promising young golfer at Holywood if Friday's Red Bull Final 5 National Ladies tournament is any barometer.

Jessica Carty, just 12 years of age and playing off a handicap of 17, qualified through her club for a final that would offer the chance for two women to represent Ireland at the world famous Pinehurst Golf & Country Club.

Given what was at stake it would have been understandable had Carty demonstrated a few nerves as she teed it up alongside the other 65 qualifiers from an original entry of 54 clubs but she certainly didn't betray any signs.

Intermittent rain and drizzle failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the competitors as they negotiated the picturesque Glasson course.

The premise for the competition was simple and while everyone played 18 holes for which there were prizes, the main event consisted of a mini-strokeplay format over the final five holes of the round.

The competitors were each given a percentage of their overall handicap and the two lowest scores would win a ticket to the World Final at Pinehurst, the venue for last year's US Open Championship.

The package, sponsored by Red Bull, includes flights, accommodation and three rounds of golf against representatives of other European countries and the USA and takes place from November 15th-19th.

Carty managed to secure the second of the two spots, behind winner Pauline Smith of the host club. But there was to be a twist in the tale. Given her age and the fact that she is starting a new school in September, her father Eamon - he was her caddie for the day - felt it inappropriate for her to take up the offer.

Red Bull will furnish another prize instead to mark her achievement on the day.

It would be remiss not to acknowledge Carty's feat with a more detailed examination.

Having managed a fine par five, on the long 14th hole, she squared up to the potential card wrecker on the five-hole stretch, the 115-yard par three.

The tee box is set in Lough Ree and it's all carry over water and reeds to a green that hides a lateral hazard just two paces from the back apron.

Aspirations would perish should a player hit if left, short or long. Few negotiated the assignment at the first time of asking.

Carty showed her maturity in hitting her six-iron to the right and despite blading her first chip, she demonstrated great composure to get up and down for bogey.

A double bogey at the long 16th up the hill threatened to scupper her chances but pars on the 17th and 18th, the final hole a 337-yard uphill par four where she slotted a four-foot downhill putt, underlined the quality of her golf.

The decision to withdraw Carty from the trip to America meant a promotion for Laura O'Mara, who originally finished third.

The 26-handicapper and current ladies captain at Seafield Golf Club in Wexford had amassed the best 18-hole score of the day with 41 points but languished in third place before being upgraded.

O'Mara is, however, well versed with the requirements for the event, having qualified for last year's decider where, by her own admission, she played "so badly".

The key to her success this year was a practice round played in the company of friend and her caddie during the competition, Terry O'Reilly.

"I played with Terry on the Thursday and that made a huge difference.

"It wasn't that I played well (28 points) but it just meant that I had an opportunity to familiarise myself with the course.

"That was especially valuable on the 14th in terms of where to hit the drive. On the Thursday, I had hit it out of bounds there but knew the line when it mattered.

"Terry was there with advice when I needed it and I was fortunate to benefit from a couple of great playing partners.

"At no stage did I think I was going to win a place on the trip. I knew I was playing well but you're just not sure of the requirements over those final five holes."

O'Mara lost nine shots in the space of five weeks from August, 2005, and while she wasn't able to play a great deal over the winter months, she has managed to squeeze in enough golf despite her official duties as lady captain at Seafield.

She was looking forward to going home to her husband, Brendan, and daughters Claire, Susie and Ali to tell them the good news.

Winner Smith, shouldered the burden of expectation superbly. A member of the host course Glasson, she underlined the advantage of local knowledge, although that was not immediately apparent during her round.

She laughed: "I had an atrocious first nine. While I should have known everything about the course I found my way into most of the bunkers. I had two lovely playing partners and we laughed the whole way round. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The 20-handicap golfer covered the final three holes in three over gross that included a par - seven iron and two putts - at the tricky 15th hole.

Married to Alan and with three children, Melissa, Claire and Alex, she runs the Shannagh Bay nursing home in Bray and has been playing golf for 10 years.

"Because of the nature of the competition you're never quite sure of what's required. There was no pressure in that respect. I'm absolutely thrilled and just can't wait to go to Pinehurst. It probably hasn't sunk in properly."