Chris Downey (left) and David Kelly celebrate Berehaven’s historic win in the AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield at Donegal GC. © Golffile | Thos Caffrey

Leona Maguire blasted a seven-under 65 to take the early lead in the LPGA Mediheal Championship in San Francisco.

The Co Cavan star (26) reeled off four birdies in her first six holes on the back nine at Lake Merced Golf Club, before following a bogey at the 16th with back to back birdies at the 17th and 18th to turn in a blistering, five-under 31.

She then picked up further shots at the first and fifth, eighth before dropping a shot at the par-five ninth to lead by a shot from Thailand’s Jasmine Thailand’s Jasmine Suwannapura and by three from Alison Lee and Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela. Scores

“It's a lot of the same style of golf course, same weather as home,” said Maguire. “Got a nice feeling straight away when we arrived on Monday.”

Knowing a maiden LPGA Tour win would be a huge boost to her Solheim Cup hopes, she added: “I've played two Junior Solheims, had a great time. I love match play, and it's one of those things the better I play, the better chance I have.

“Just kind of have to keep doing what I'm doing and see what Beany (captain Catriona Matthew) thinks after the British Open.”.

Meanwhile, tiny Berehaven made history when they captured the 2020 AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield and their first national pennant in the AIG Cups and Shields Finals at Donegal Golf Club.

Declan Dunne and Luke O’Sullivan clinched the crucial point with a 4&2 win over Fergal Doogue and Nathan Gerraghty in a 3.5-1.5 victory over fellow minnows Baltinglass.

“You cannot imagine how good it feels. It’s the best moment of my life”, Dunne said moments after the win.
“There’s a pile of kids playing, and hopefully more kids and adults will follow”, O’Sullivan added, when speaking about the club. “Most people don’t even know where we’re from. So many people said how far away we are. It’s unbelievable.”

In the AIG Senior Cup, Belvoir Park will face Carton House for the title after they cruised to a comfortable 3.5-1.5 win over holders Galway as the Kildare men overcame a youthful Faithlegg 4-1.

Belvoir Park’s Gareth Lappin defeated Galway’s Stephen Brady 6&4 in their top match, and he’s already looking forward to Friday’s Final.

“We had our Ulster Finals here in Donegal, so we have good memories of Murvagh. We brought that momentum into the match. For us to get this far has been great, but we want to win. It’s great for the club and a way to motivate those coming through the ranks.”

In the AIG Junior Cup, Kilkenny had a comfortable 4-1 win over Balmoral and will battle for the title against Ballinasloe, who needed extra holes to see off Castletroy 3-2.

Kilkenny’s Simon Cullen had the biggest win in the Semi-Finals after an 8&6 win over Ed Hughes. He feels his team are in good form ahead of Friday’s decider.

“Everyone seems to be playing very well, especially after qualifying for the Finals on Monday. I played very well I thought and was very happy with it. We’re expecting a tough match tomorrow. Ballinasloe came through a tough match, but we’re happy with the additional rest.”

Spanish Point beat Gort 3.5-1.5 and will face Dunmurry, who were 3-2 winners over Cill Dara, in the AIG Pierce Purcell Shield Final.

Three Hehir brothers were part of the winning Spanish Point team, and Fergal Hehir was delighted to have a 3&2 win with his brother Michael over Gort’s Gerard Connors and David Cahill.

“We’re thrilled with the win. There was very little in it. We won the Shield a couple of years ago, and hope to do it again. Michael taught me all I know about golf. We’re a tight family. Tomorrow will be super!”

At the PGA Tour’s Palmetto Championship at Congaree, Wes Roach shot a seven-under 64 to leas by a shot from world No 1 Dustin Johnson, Doc Redman, Chesson Hadley and South Africa’s Erik Van Rooyen in South Carolina. Scores

Seamus Power was tied 41st after opening with a 70 while Padraig Harrington was tied 93rd after a 73.

On the European Tour, Jonathan Caldwell fired a two-under 70 to lie six shots behind leaders Christine Wolff of Austria and England’s Sam Horsfield in the Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik & Annika in Gothenburg. Scores

He was tied 56th as Wolf and two-time European Tour winner Horsfield carded eight-under-par 64s for a one-stroke lead over England’s Steven Brown and Ashley Chesters, Finland’s Kalle Samooja and Spain’s Pep Angles.

On the Challenge Tour, veteran Michael Hoey (42) opened with a one-under 71 to lie six strokes behind Belgium’s Kristof Ulenaers in the Challenge de Cadiz at Novo Sancti Petri.

Conor Purcell and Conor O’Rourke shot three-over 75s, Tom McKibbin a 77 and Paul McBride a 78 to leave them struggling to make the cut. Scores

Meanwhile, Hermitage’s Kate Lanigan beat Lorna McClymont 2&1 and Ffion Tynan 4&3 to reach the quarter-finals of the Women’s Amateur Championship at Kilmarnock (Barassie) where she now faces Iceland’s Jóhanna Lea Lúðvíksdóttir.

Douglas’ Sara Byrne fell 6&4 to Scotland’s Louise Duncan in the last 16 as Aine Donegan, Beth Coulter, Rebekah Gardner and Canice Screene exited in the round of 32. Scores

“I didn’t have any expectations going into the week but I’m delighted,” Lanigan said. “I’m just taking each match as it comes. We only booked two days accommodation, so we had to look around last night and tonight we’re looking for accommodation again.

“It’s a lovely links, being from Ireland, I’m used to links. They’re a bit more hilly over there, but it’s playing lovely and the facilities here are amazing.”

2020 AIG Cups & Shields Finals, Donegal GC

AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield Final

Berehaven 3.5-1.5 Baltinglass:

S Spencer & B O’Driscoll bt J Bowes & B Lord 5&3;
D Dunne & L O’Sullivan bt F Doogue & N Gerraghty 4&2;
C Downey & D Kelly bt D Byrne & E Cooney 6&5;
L Hanley & G Power lost to N Patterson & S Mann 6&4;
L Harrington & D Hegarty halved R McHugh & N Doogue.

AIG Senior Cup Semi-Finals

Carton House 4-1 Faithlegg

M Boucher bt R Milne 3&2;
K Egan bt A King 4&2;
E Sullivan halved with D O’Connor;
D Flynn bt R Fives 3&2;
P O’Hanlon halved with J McCleane.

Galway 1.5-3.5 Belvoir Park

S Brady lost to G Lappin 6&4;
E McCormack bt S Jones 20th;
L Nolan lost to S Ward 3&1;
C Nolan lost to D Hogg 2 holes;
J Lyons halved with D Shaw.

AIG Junior Cup Semi-Finals

Castletroy 2-3 Ballinasloe

I Irwin bt A Leonard 2&1;
J Kavanagh Snr lost to T Cafferky 1 h.;
J Kavanagh Jnr lost to J Corbett 21st;
O Hodges bt F Finneran 1 h.;
S Mernagh lost to C Smyth 2 h.

Kilkenny 4-1 Balmoral

A O’Rourke bt K McKeown 5&4;
B Dowling halved with C Clarke;
S Dunlop bt J Flynn 7&6;
S Cullen bt E Hughes 8&6;
R Guilfoyle halved with J Tully.

AIG Pierce Purcell Shield Semi-Finals

Gort 1.5-3.5 Spanish Point

J Tierney & P Ryan bt P Hogan & S Conway 3&2;
B McDonagh & K Reidy lost to K Hynes & N Heeney 3&1;
G Connors & D Cahill lost to Michael Hehir & F Hehir 3&2;
M Ryan & D Daly lost to Mervin Hehir & C Duggan 3&2;
P Curtis & J Williams halved with M O’Brien & M Donnelly.

Dunmurry 3-2 Cill Dara

S Clarke & M Wilson lost to B Moran & L Brennan 2&1;
V Tandon & M McAuley bt F Kelly & D Loakman 19th;
T Lamont & B McCauley bt R Melia & S Treacy 5&4;
J Keag & M Ferguson bt C O’Leary & C Roche 2&1;
L Peden & F Campbell lost to N Flanagan & E Cross 2&1.

Today

AIG Senior Cup Final, (8.30) Carton House v Belvoir Park
AIG Junior Cup Final (9.20) Ballinasloe v Kilkenny
AIG Pierce Purcell Shield Final (10.10) Spanish Point v Dunmurry.