Amateur golfBrian KeoghLeona Maguire, Olivia Mehaffey, Annabel Wilson, World Amateur Team Championships, Espirito Santo TrophyComment

Historic bronze medal for Irish women in World Amateur Team Championships

Amateur golfBrian KeoghLeona Maguire, Olivia Mehaffey, Annabel Wilson, World Amateur Team Championships, Espirito Santo TrophyComment
Historic bronze medal for Irish women in World Amateur Team Championships
World bronze medalists Leona Maguire, Annabel Wilson and Olivia Mehaffey with the ILGU's David Kearney and Sandra Barnett.

World bronze medalists Leona Maguire, Annabel Wilson and Olivia Mehaffey with the ILGU's David Kearney and Sandra Barnett.

The trio of Annabel Wilson, Olivia Mehaffey and Leona Maguire made history on Saturday when won bronze for Ireland in the World Amateur Team Championships in Mexico.

Ireland’s previous best finish since abandoning the GB&I model in 2006 came in Argentina in 2010 when the team was Danielle McVeigh and the Maguire twins Lisa and Leona finished tied 11th.

But with Slieve Russell star Leona now ranked No 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Royal County Down Ladies' Olivia at No 5 and up-and-coming Lurgan talent Annabel showing she’s a star of the future, Ireland came out on top in a final day battle with Denmark to take third place behind runaway winners Korea and silver medalists Switzerland at Mayakoba El Camaleon Golf Club in Playa del Carmen.

L-R History makers — Leona Maguire, Annabel Wilson and Olivia Mehaffey jump for joy in Mexico

L-R History makers — Leona Maguire, Annabel Wilson and Olivia Mehaffey jump for joy in Mexico

“I’m just so proud of them,” said Ireland’s national coach, David Kearney. “We have got three amazing girls there, just incredible girls. 

"They are all very serious about their golf and they work incredibly hard all year round when they are not at tournaments. I’m just delighted for them, they are three terrific girls. It’s just brilliant.”

Team members Min ji Park , (left), Hye jin Choi and Hyun kyung Park of Republic of Korea, hoist the trophy at the 18th green following the fourth round of the 2016 Espirito Santo Trophy at El Camaleon G.C. in Riviera Maya, Mexico on Saturday, Sept. …

Team members Min ji Park , (left), Hye jin Choi and Hyun kyung Park of Republic of Korea, hoist the trophy at the 18th green following the fourth round of the 2016 Espirito Santo Trophy at El Camaleon G.C. in Riviera Maya, Mexico on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016.  (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)

All three Irish players recorded their best scores of the week as Ireland came from behind to take a medal on seven under par 569 — 146 (Mayakoba Course),  141 (Iberostar Course), 145 (Iberostar), 137 (Mayakoba) — just one stroke behind second placed Switzerland and only one ahead of Denmark.

Leona closed with a bogey-free, three under 69, finishing tied sixth in the individual standings as Olivia (T15) had six birdies in a four under 68 and Annabel (72) made two birdie twos in level par 72.

The Republic of Korea romped to victory by 21 strokes on 29 under par with  Hye jin Choi (67) winning the individual honours by two shots from Denmark’s Puk Lyng Thomsen with Min Ji Park and Swiss Kim Metreaux tied third on nine under.

A volunteer works the scoreboard at the 7th tee during the fourth round of the 2016 Espirito Santo Trophy at El Camaleon G.C. in Riviera Maya, Mexico on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016.  (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)

A volunteer works the scoreboard at the 7th tee during the fourth round of the 2016 Espirito Santo Trophy at El Camaleon G.C. in Riviera Maya, Mexico on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016.  (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)

“It’s interesting because we had no goal of any position for the finish but we just took each day at a time and we set ourselves up to have the best day we could,” Kearney added. 

"I think the girls had their own space to prepare the way they wanted to and get ready for it. They just did their thing then and it was so easy to be with them, they are just super players.” 

Since opting to compete as Ireland and not part of GB&I teams, Ireland has finished tied 23rd (2006), 24th (2008), tied 11th (2010), tied 15th (2012 and tied 33rd two years ago.

A bronze medal was a fitting reward for Leona Maguire, who tied for 21st in the Olympic Games and may well have played her last tournament for Ireland as an amateur as she plans to enter the LPGA Tour's Qualifying School next month.

The 28th Women’s World Amateur Team Championship will be played from 29 Aug.-1 Sept., 2018 at Carton House Golf Club in Co Kildare.

2016 Women’s World Amateur Team Championship

Mayakoba El Camaleon Golf Club (M) Par 72, 6,295-yard/5,752m
Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club (I) Par 72, 6,167-yard/5,637m

Team scores / Individual scores

1.Republic of Korea (KOR) - 138 I-137 M-138 I-134 M--547 (-29)

  Hye jin Choi 70-69-68-67--274

  Min ji Park 74-68-70-67--279

  Hyun kyung Park 68-75-71-71--285

2.Switzerland (SUI) - 137 M-145 I-145 I-141 M--568 (-8)

  Kim Metraux 69-72-69-69--279

  Morgane Metraux 68-73-76-72--289

  Azelia Meichtry 73-80-82-73--308

3.Ireland (IRL) - 146 M-141 I-145 I-137 M--569 (-7)

  Leona Maguire 72-70-71-69--282

  Olivia Mehaffey 74-71-75-68--288

  Annabel Wilson 80-79-74-72--305

4.Denmark (DEN) - 151 M-137 I-144 I-138 M--570 (-6)

  Puk Lyng Thomsen 73-67-70-66--276

  Marie Lund-Hansen 78-73-74-72--297

  Malene Kroelboell Hansen 80-70-75-83--308

5.Thailand (THA) - 145 I-143 M-143 I-140 M--571 (-5)

  Pajaree Anannarukarn 74-69-73-70--286

  Kanyalak Preedasuttijit 71-75-70-71--287

  Manuschaya Zeemakorn 74-74-75-70--293

6.United States of America (USA) - 146 M-145 I-145 I-138 M--574 (-2)

  Andrea Lee 74-73-70-69--286

  Katelyn Dambaugh 72-72-78-69--291

  Mariel Galdiano 74-73-75-74--296

7.Spain (ESP) - 151 M-143 I-141 I-140 M--575 (-1)

  Maria Parra 75-70-70-68--283

  Luna Sobron 78-73-71-74--296

  Harang Lee 76-73-75-72--296

8.Japan (JPN) - 142 M-153 I-144 I-137 M--576 (Even)

  Nasa Hataoka 71-76-72-67--286

  Hina Arakaki 71-78-72-70--291

  Yumi Matsubara 74-77-77-78--306

9.Canada (CAN) - 149 M-144 I-145 I-143 M--581 (+5)

  Naomi Ko 75-66-71-70--282

  Madeline Szeryk 74-78-74-73--299

  Josee Doyon 78-80-81-78--317

10.Mexico (MEX) - 144 M-148 I-146 I-144 M--582 (+6)

  Isabella Fierro 71-73-75-70--289

  Maria Fassi 73-76-71-78--298

  Ana Paula Valdes 80-75-78-74--307

11.Belgium (BEL) - 153 I-149 M-142 I-140 M--584 (+8)

  Leslie Cloots 76-70-68-69--283

  Diane Baillieux 78-84-74-71--307

  Clarisse Louis 77-79-DQ-71--DQ

T12.Australia (AUS) - 147 M-147 I-149 I-144 M--587 (+11)

  Hannah Green 74-73-73-76--296

  Robyn Choi 73-75-76-73--297

  Karis Davidson 75-74-82-71--302

T12.People's Republic of China (CHN) - 143 M-147 I-151 I-146 M--587 (+11)

  Yifan Ji 72-74-73-75--294

  Wenbo Liu 71-75-78-71--295

  Shan Pan 79-73-81-75--308

T14.Chinese Taipei (TPE) - 146 M-152 I-146 I-144 M--588 (+12)

  Jo-Hua Hung 71-80-73-72--296

  Ya-Chun Chang 75-75-73-79--302

  Ching-Tzu Chen 78-77-76-72--303

T14.Italy (ITA) - 147 M-151 I-148 I-142 M--588 (+12)

  Bianca Fabrizio 71-75-77-73--296

  Laura Lonardi 77-79-74-69--299

  Carlotta Ricolfi 76-76-74-75--301

16.Sweden (SWE) - 148 M-147 I-149 I-145 M--589 (+13)

  Linnea Strom 74-73-74-73--294

  Emma Henrikson 74-74-75-76--299

  Frida Gustafsson Spang 80-79-75-72--306

T17.Czech Republic (CZE) - 148 I-150 M-146 I-146 M--590 (+14)

  Karolina Vlckova 74-73-75-71--293

  Katerina Vlasinova 74-81-83-75--313

  Kristyna Frydlova 82-77-71-88--318

T17.England (ENG) - 147 M-150 I-147 I-146 M--590 (+14)

  Meghan MacLaren 73-73-74-74--294

  Alice Hewson 74-78-73-72--297

  Gemma Clews 78-77-76-74--305

19.New Zealand (NZL) - 147 I-147 M-146 I-152 M--592 (+16)

  Wenyung Keh 72-73-72-75--292

  Julianne Alvarez 77-75-74-77--303

  Chantelle Cassidy 75-74-79-78--306

20.Norway (NOR) - 147 I-152 M-149 I-146 M--594 (+18)

  Renate Hjelle Grimstad 70-75-73-74--292

  Stina Resen 77-77-78-75--307

  Marthe Wold 84-78-76-72--310

21.Austria (AUT) - 146 M-145 I-157 I-147 M--595 (+19)

  Leonie Bettel 73-73-81-72--299

  Emma Spitz 75-72-76-80--303

  Ines Fendt 73-76-81-75--305

T22.Ecuador (ECU) - 147 M-153 I-149 I-147 M--596 (+20)

  Daniela Darquea 71-72-70-68--281

  Anika Veintemilla 76-81-81-81--319

  Coralia Arias 82-90-79-79--330

T22.Paraguay (PAR) - 148 I-146 M-148 I-154 M--596 (+20)

  Sofia Garcia 74-72-73-79--298

  Maria Fernanda Escauriza 74-74-77-75--300

  Milagros Chaves 79-74-75-79--307

24.Colombia (COL) - 151 M-151 I-145 M-151 I--598 (+22)

  Silvia Garces 72-72-70-74--288

  Cynthia Diaz 79-79-76-77--311

  Laura Sojo 81-82-75-85--323

T25.Puerto Rico (PUR) - 147 M-155 I-149 I-148 M--599 (+23)

  Maria F. Torres 70-78-76-73--297

  Valeria Sofia Pacheco 77-77-73-77--304

  Yudika Ann Rodriguez 82-79-77-75--313

T25.South Africa (RSA) - 148 M-155 I-142 M-154 I--599 (+23)

  Ivanna Samu 74-77-71-81--303

  Cara Gorlei 74-78-76-78--306

  Kaleigh Telfer 79-82-71-76--308

T27.France (FRA) - 152 M-152 I-149 M-147 I--600 (+24)

  Agathe Laisne 76-76-71-75--298

  Mathilda Cappeliez 76-76-78-72--302

  Pauline Roussin-Bouchard 85-82-78-77--322

T27.Germany (GER) - 150 I-153 M-150 M-147 I--600 (+24)

  Esther Henseleit 76-76-75-73--300

  Sophie Hausmann 74-78-75-74--301

  Antonia Eberhard 77-77-75-77--306

T27.Scotland (SCO) - 156 I-149 M-146 M-149 I--600 (+24)

  Jessica Meek 76-75-74-73--298

  Rachael Taylor 80-74-78-76--308

  Connie Jaffrey 81-81-72-78--312

30.Netherlands (NED) - 149 M-155 I-146 M-151 I--601 (+25)

  Dewi Weber 73-77-75-77--302

  Roos Haarman 76-85-71-74--306

  Zhen Bontan 77-78-76-77--308

31.India (IND) - 154 M-146 I-150 I-152 M--602 (+26)

  Tvesa Malik 82-71-76-72--301

  Gaurika Bishnoi 75-75-74-80--304

  Diksha Dagar 79-78-76-80--313

T32.Argentina (ARG) - 159 M-148 I-145 M-151 I--603 (+27)

  Ela Anacona 78-73-74-76--301

  Agustina Zeballos 81-83-71-75--310

  Magdalena Simmermacher 83-75-78-78--314

T32.Finland (FIN) - 150 I-153 M-150 M-150 I--603 (+27)

  Emily Pentilla 76-74-75-77--302

  Matilda Castren 74-80-77-73--304

  Daniella Barrett 77-79-75-81--312

T34.Hong Kong, China (HKG) - 148 M-154 I-154 I-151 M--607 (+31)

  Tiffany Chan 71-80-78-75--304

  Mimi Ho 78-74-76-78--306

  Michelle Cheung 77-80-80-76--313

T34.Russian Federation (RUS) - 159 I-148 M-154 M-146 I--607 (+31)

  Sofia Anokhina 78-73-79-75--305

  Sofya Morozova 81-75-80-71--307

  Vera Markevich 84-80-75-81--320

36.Brazil (BRA) - 149 I-153 M-154 I-154 M--610 (+34)

  Luiza Altmann 73-76-77-79--305

  Lauren Grinberg 78-77-77-78--310

  Clara Teixeira 76-83-79-76--314

37.Peru (PER) - 152 M-154 I-152 M-153 I--611 (+35)

  Lucia Gutierrez 76-77-75-72--300

  Maria Salinas Valle 76-79-77-81--313

  Micaela Farah 79-77-79-82--317

T38.Slovakia (SVK) - 157 M-151 I-154 M-154 I--616 (+40)

  Natalia Heckova 80-74-74-79--307

  Lea Klimentova 79-77-80-75--311

  Laila Hrindova 78-81-82-83--324

T38.Venezuela (VEN) - 157 I-153 M-150 M-156 I--616 (+40)

  Stephanie Gellini 78-77-74-78--307

  Valentina Gilly 79-76-76-78--309

  Nicole Ferre 80-82-77-89--328

40.Wales (WAL) - 157 I-155 M-147 M-159 I--618 (+42)

  Chloe Williams 78-79-70-77--304

  Katherine O'Connor 83-76-77-82--318

  Megan Lockett 79-86-79-86--330

41.Uruguay (URU) - 162 I-161 M-147 M-149 I--619 (+43)

  Priscilla Schmid 82-81-72-74--309

  Sofia Garcia Austt 80-80-75-75--310

  Manuela Barros 82-88-78-88--336

42.Slovenia (SLO) - 157 M-162 I-148 M-153 I--620 (+44)

  Katja Pogacar 78-78-69-73--298

  Ana Belac 79-85-80-82--326

  Nastja Banovec 85-84-79-80--328

T43.Guatemala (GUA) - 159 I-150 M-154 M-160 I--623 (+47)

  Lucia Polo 80-73-75-81--309

  Valeria Mendizabal 79-79-79-84--321

  Pilar Echeverra 85-77-83-79--324

T43.Iceland (ISL) - 156 I-165 M-145 M-157 I--623 (+47)

  Gudrun Bjorgvinsdottir 79-76-69-76--300

  Berglind Bjornsdottir 77-89-78-81--325

  Signy Arnorsdottir 79-90-76-84--329

T45.Chile (CHI) - 159 I-154 M-156 M-157 I--626 (+50)

  Isidora Nilsson 84-75-76-73--308

  Maria Jose Hurtado 75-79-80-90--324

  Natalia Villavicencio 88-83-87-84--342

T45.Turkey (TUR) - 156 I-154 M-162 M-154 I--626 (+50)

  Selin Timur 76-75-82-76--309

  Sena Ersoy 82-82-80-78--322

  Tugce Erden 80-79-86-89--334

47.Morocco (MAR) - 159 I-161 M-155 M-158 I--633 (+57)

  Ines Laklalech 79-76-78-79--312

  Houria El Abbadi 81-89-83-79--332

  Lina Belmati 80-85-77-91--333

48.Poland (POL) - 158 I-156 M-164 M-161 I--639 (+63)

  Dorota Zalewska 78-80-77-79--314

  Nastasia Kossacky 80-76-87-85--328

  Dominika Gradecka 85-86-88-82--341

49.Bolivia (BOL) - 165 I-167 M-156 M-162 I--650 (+74)

  Daniela Siles 83-81-81-79--324

  Michelle Ledermann 82-86-75-83--326

50.Latvia (LAT) - 165 I-175 M-160 M-164 I--664 (+88)

  Anna Diana Svanka 78-83-74-75--310

  Laila Forstmane 87-92-86-89--354

51.Bulgaria (BUL) - 174 I-172 M-158 M-166 I--670 (+94)

  Sofia Seldemirova 85-80-79-85--329

  Ivana Simeonova 89-96-79-81--345

  Stefani Skokanska 95-92-85-93--365

52.Guam (GUM) - 172 I-174 M-171 M-161 I--678 (+102)

  Rachael Peterson 83-85-87-83--338

  Kristin Oberiano 89-89-84-78--340

  Rose Tarpley 92-90-92-95--369

53.Ukraine (UKR) - 173 I-178 M-183 M-180 I--714 (+138)

  Elvira Rastvortseva 85-85-89-89--348

  Anna Avdieieva 88-93-94-91--366

  Daria Horokhovska 99-103-99-97--398

54.Costa Rica (CRC) - 183 I-178 M-176 M-179 I--716 (+140)

  Daniela Baudrit 91-92-86-89--358

  Ximena Montealegre 92-89-91-91--363

  Pamela Calderon 95-89-90-90--364

55.Tunisia (TUN) - 185 I-181 M-175 M-177 I--718 (+142)

  Kenza Ladhari 84-84-86-88--342

  Hadia Mansouri 101-97-89-89--376

  Nour Ben Cherif 115-109-105-106--435