Team Ireland: Leona Maguire claims impressive two-shot win at Mount Juliet
Leona Maguire. Picture by Pat Cashman
LPGA Tour star Leona Maguire produced a tremendous finish to capture the Team Ireland Golf event at Mount Juliet by two shots and pocket the €1,800 top prize.
The Slieve Russell professional opened with a two-under-par 70 at the Jack Nicklaus designed course in Kilkenny to share the first-round lead with Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell, one shot better than Stuart Grehan, Conor O’Rourke and John Ross Galbraith.
But she showed her class in the afternoon round, firing an eagle and five birdies in a six-under 66 to win by two shots from Grehan on eight under par.
Maguire birdied, the fourth, fifth, 10th, 14th and 15th and while Grehan kept pace and birdied four of the last six holes for a 67 to set the target at six-under, Leona stormed to victory.
Playing with O’Rourke and Danny Brennan in the final three-ball of an event organised by Team Ireland to give 12 players some competitive practice for cash during the COVID-19 pandemic, she came home in 32, moving three clear with an eagle three at the 17th where she hit what she described as her “trusty 9 wood to 12 feet from 198 yards” before finishing with a bogey.
Team Ireland Golf event at Mount Juliet (Par 72)
136 L Maguire 70 66 (€1,800);
138 S Grehan 71 67 (€1,350);
142 C O'Rourke 71 71 (€900);
143 JR Galbraith 71 72 (€600);
146 P McBride 76 70, C Purcell 70 76 (€175 each);
147 G Hurley 74 73, J Yates 73 74;
149 R Mullarney 75 74;
150 D McElroy 73 77;
155 D Brennan 80 75;
156 D Carey 75 81.
