Mehaffey in hat-trick bid at Roganstown
Olivia Mehaffey celebrates her second win last year. Picture by Pat Cashman Photography
Olivia Mehaffey will be going for a hat-trick of Irish Girls Under 18 Open Strokeplay Championship titles at Roganstown this weekend.
But the biggest Irish talent since Stephanie Meadow and the Maguire twins Lisa and Leona is looking even further into the future.
“It’s the September of 2016,” she says of her decision to take up an offer of a scholarship at Arizona State University.
“I can't wait to get out there and get started in America because it's such an exciting adventure. But I’ve still got another year left in college here and I love it.”
There was no chat with Phil Mickelson, of course, whose brother Tim coaches the Arizona State men’s team.
But Mehaffey can’t wait to join Melissa Lullen’s starlets in less than 18 months and take her next step towards emulating LPGA player Meadow, who was a standout college player for the University of Alabama.
“She's such a lovely girl on and off the course!” she says of Meadow. “Such a great role model for everyone in Ireland and definitely an inspiration.”
Not set to turn 18 until 9 October, Mehaffey is busy studying Sports Science at Newry Southern Regional College and planning a successful amateur season.
It’s her last summer of girls golf and she’s already aiming high with a spot on the Vagliano Trophy team to face the Continent of Europe at Malone at the top of her wish list.
“I've been playing a lot and done a good bit of winter training and a lot of work with Robbie Cannon on my fitness and with Chris Jelly and Donal Scott on my game,” she says.
“It would be nice to win the Irish Under 18s again but I'll just try play some good golf and make some birdies and see what happens.”
Olivia will be joined by a number of Irish Internationals at Roganstown as Hermitage’s Ciara Casey, Killarney’s Mairead Martin, Forrest Little’s Julie McCarthy and Lurgan duo Niamh McSherry and Annabel Wilson also tee it up.
Draw for Saturday 18th April 2015
1stTee 10thTee PLAYER (Club/Country)
07:30 13:00 Olivia Mehaffey (RCDL) Esther Henseleit (GER) Sophie Lamb (ENG)
07:40 13:10 Emma Allen (ENG) Linda Lundqvist (SWE) Carolin Kauffmann (GER)
07:50 13:20 Ebba Bjornberg (SWE) Chloe Goadby (SCO) Velia Hoever (GER)
08:00 13:30 Lauren Mackintosh (GER) Linn Grant (SWE) Annabel Wilson (Lurgan)
08:10 13:40 Pi-Lillebi Hermansson (SWE) Emma Hale (SCO) Murielle Frischknecht (CHE)
08:20 13:50 Jessica Hall (ENG) Ciara Casey (Hermitage) Shannon McWilliam (SCO)
08:30 14:00 Ainee O'Connor (ENG) Lilly Koester (GER) Sofie Babic (SWE)
08:40 14:10 Louise Henningsson (SWE) Katie Aherne (Waterford Castle) Mirren Fraser (SCO)
08:50 14:20 Frederike Kutschinski (GER) Ella Stromfelt (SWE) Magdalena Cervinkova (CZE)
09:00 14:30 Hannah Karg (GER) Tina Mazarino (NOR) Chiara Vikkula (BEL)
09:10 14:40 Yella Hammer (GER) Matilda Wahren (SWE) Clodagh Jones (Roscrea)
09:20 14:50 Kirsten Brown (SCO) Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo) Clare Calvert (Royal Co. Down Ladies)
10th Tee 1st Tee PLAYER (Club/Country)
07:30 13:00 Isabella Holpfer (AUT) Cloe Frankish (ENG) Valerie Serrien (BEL)
07:40 13:10 Samantha Fuller (ENG) Ebba Nilsson (SWE) Julie McCarthy (Forrest Little)
07:50 13:20 Marie Luise Kuschke (GER) Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) Beatrice Wallin (SWE)
08:00 13:30 Elsa Lundquist (SWE) Anna-Maria Diederichs (GER) Nicola Fall (FIN)
08:10 13:40 Amanda Linner (SWE) Hazel MacGarvie (SCO) Iveta Posledni (CZE)
08:20 13:50 Martha Lewis (ENG) Mairead Martin (Killarney) Tilda Green (SWE)
08:30 14:00 Claire Robertson (SCO) Lucy Walton (ENG) Victoria Craig (Royal Belfast)
08:40 14:10 Elisabeth Haller (GER) Valerie Clancy (Killarney) Joanne Free (SCO)
08:50 14:20 Carlotta Overheu (GER) Olof Einardottir (ICE) Jelina Fernando (ENG)
09:00 14:30 Alice Gotbring (SWE) Katie Rafferty (Tipperary) Lauren Watson (SCO)
09:10 14:40 Lisa O'Shea (Shannon) Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden) Alice Hutchinson (St. Anne's)
09:20 14:50 Elisa Corcoran (Grange) Nicole McGavisk (Donabate) Sara Byrne (Douglas)
WAITLIST IN HANDICAP ORDER
5.3 Kirsty Brodie (SCO)
5.4 Jillian Farrell (SCO)
5.5 Shannon O'Dwyer (ENG)
5.5 Johanna Anderson (SWE)
5.7 Jennifer Rankine (SCO)
5.9 Alexandra Gretarsdottir (ICE)
6.6 Sigurlaug Run Jonsdottir (ICE)
6.8 Brandy Rook (ENG)
6.9 Grace McGrath (East Cork)
7.0 Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden)
7.2 Kate Dwyer (Rossmore)
7.3 Maeve Cummins (Lurgan)
7.7 Laura Ryan (Dun Laoghaire)
7.9 Eibhlin McCarthy (Killorglin)
8.1 Louise Duncan (SCO)
8.2 Vivienne Wündisch (GER)
8.8 Aoife ni Thuama (Douglas)
8.9 Linda Kirke (LAT)
8.9 Ellie Lace (ENG)
10.0 Julie Ann Malone (Rosslare) w/d
10.5 Kate McElroy (Faithlegg)
11.9 Emma Guinane (Limerick)
12.3 Niamh Cronin (Co. Sligo)
