MacLaren denies Grant in Irish Women's Open

Meghan MacLaren (England) with the 2013 Irish Open Strokeplay Championship trophy after her victory at Castle. Picture by Pat CashmanLisburn’s Paula Grant produced a stunning final round charge but came up one short as England’s Meghan MacLaren claimed the Irish Women’s Amateur Open Strokeplay Championship at Castle.

The 19-year year old student at Florida International University birdied the 16th and 17th for a two over 74 to edge out Grant (70) by a shot on two over 218 for a wire-to-wire victory.

Three clear of Scotland’s Eilidh Briggs overnight and five clear of Grant, MacLaren got off to a horrible start with bogeys at the first four holes.

Paula Grant (Lisburn) driving from the 17th tee during the final round of the 2013 Irish Women’s Open Strokeplay Championship at the Castle. Picture by Pat CashmanGrant turned in one under par to leave them tied at the top on four over with nine to play and then birdied the 12th and 14th to surge two shots in front.

The first turning point came at the 187-yard 15th, where both were bunkered but only MacLaren managed to get up and down for her par.

Just one behind now, Wellingborough golfer MacLaren drew level with Grant she pitched in from 45 feet for a birdie four at the 529-yard 16th after narrowly avoiding out of bounds when her fairway wood approach clattered into the trees.

Meghan MacLaren with the Irish Women’s Amateur Open Strokeplay trophy. Picture Pat CashmanThen at the 500-yard 17th she hit her third to six feet above the pin after a brave second and rolled home the downhill putt to edge a shot in front.

Twice a winner on the US college circuit in her freshman year, MacLaren is now hotly fancied to make the GB&I team for next month’s Vagliano Trophy in Paris, much to the delight of her father David, a European Tour Director.

Scotland’s Eilidh Briggs was third on 11 over 227 alongside Ballybunion’s Emma O’Driscoll (77) with Skerries’ Maria Dunne (74) fifth on 228.

England won the Nations Cup from Ireland with Scotland in third and Brazil fourth.

Mary McKenna (President, Irish Ladies Golf Union) presenting the 2013 Irish Open Strokeplay Championship trophy to Meghan MacLaren (England) after her victory at the Castle Golf Club. Also in the picture is Justine Agnew (Lady Captain, Castle Golf Club). Picture by Pat Cashman

Irish Women’s Amateur Open Strokeplay, Castle (Par 72)

FINAL RESULTS (SSS 74 CSS 76 75)

218 Meghan MacLaren (ENG) 71 73 74

219 Paula Grant (Lisburn) 76 73 70

227 Eilidh Briggs (SCO) 76 71 80, Emma O’Driscoll (Ballybunion) 74 76 77

228 Maria Dunne (Skerries) 79 75 74, Lesley Atkins (SCO) 74 77 77, Samantha Fuller (ENG) 73 82 73

229 Jessica Wilcox (ENG) 79 76 74, Jessica Carty (Holywood) 79 77 73, Róisín Brady (Co. Louth) 73 82 74

230 Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) 78 72 80, Amy Boulden (WAL) 77 76 77, Sarah Jane Boyd (ENG) 74 77 79

231 Olivia Mehaffey (RCD Ladies) 78 76 77

232 Samantha Giles (ENG) 79 76 77

233 Chloe Weir (Shandon Park) 83 73 77, Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth) 77 78 78

234 Amy Farrell (Moate) 78 80 76, Ariana Coyle Diez (Elm Park) 77 82 75

235 Sinead Sexton (Lahinch) 76 81 78

236 Jessica Meek (SCO) 73 78 85

237 Patrice Delaney (Birr) 81 80 76, Nathalie Rodrigues da Silva (BRA) 80 75 82

238 Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) 79 78 81, Mary Doyle (The Heath) 77 79 82

240 Gillian O’Leary (The Island) 79 79 82, Lisa O’Shea (Shannon) 76 79 85, Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) 76 81 83

241 Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) 81 74 86

242 Clara Teixeira (BRA) 78 81 83

245 Aoife Lowry (Tipperary) 85 78 82, Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) 80 83 82

246 Meadhbh Doyle (Portarlington) 82 84 80

249 Áedín Murphy (Carlow) 80 82 87

250 Jessica Ross (Donaghadee) 80 82 88

252 Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel) 87 80 85, Carla Reynolds (Seapoint) 85 83 84

253 Daisy-May Kenny (ENG) 83 85 85

WD Hannah McCook (SCO) 82 85 WD

RTD Rachel Walker (SCO) 82 85 RTD

NATIONS CUP

441 ENGLAND Sarah Jane Boyd [74] 77 [79] Samantha Fuller 73 [82] 73 Meghan Maclaren 71 73 74

446 IRELAND Paula Grant 76 73 70 Olivia Mehaffey 78 [76] 77 Chloe Ryan [78] 72 [80]

464 SCOTLAND Lesley Atkins 74 77 77 Hannah McCook [82] [85] WD Jessica Meek 73 78 85

473 BRAZIL Nathalie Rodrigues da Silva 80 75 82 Clara Teixeira 78 75 83

Non-Qualifiers

169 Gertie McMullen (The Island) 80 89

170 Karen Delaney (Carlow) 87 83

171 Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe) 88 83, Niamh Ward (Lurgan) 84 87

172 Jenny Maguire (Foxrock) 90 82, Holly Robinson (Co. Sligo) 88 84, Sarah Boden (Kilkeel) 86 86

172 Victoria Craig (Clandeboye) 83 89

173 Laura Doherty (Howth) 87 86

174 Maria Beaton (Castle) 88 86, Daisy Macve (ENG) 83 91

175 Kirsty Beckwith (ENG) 87 88

176 Louise Hanratty (Mannan Castle) 93 83, Claire Keating (Killarney) 84 92

177 Clíodhna McCarthy (Stackstown) 89 88, Sophie Harrison (Sutton) 87 90

181 Rachel Taylor (Laytown & Bettystown) 92 89

182 Hayley Mackay (ENG) 92 90

190 Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) 100 90

WD Louise Coffey (Malone) 86 WD

Clara Teixeira (Brazil) pitching to the 18th in the final round of the 2013 Irish Open Strokeplay Championship at the Castle Golf Club today (Sunday 26/05/20913). Picture by Pat CashmanMeghan MacLaren (England) winner of the 2013 Irish Open Strokeplay Championship driving from the 17th tee during the final round at Castle Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman