Byrne begins LET pro journey in Spain
Sara Byrne was inspired watching Leona Maguire put her controversial Solheim Cup snub behind her and romp to an impressive singles win on Sunday.
But as the Co Cavan star looks to outshine winning US rivals Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang and seven of her European teammates in the LPGA’s Kroger Queen City Championship in Ohio this week, Byrne (23) makes her professional debut on the Ladies European Tour in the €1 million La Sella Open in Spain looking to take her first steps towards making the team herself one day.
The Douglas star (23) returns to action with her batteries fully recharged after following her recent success at the LPGA Q-School pre-qualifier with a brilliant Curtis Cup winning performance at Sunningdale and a share of 13th in her professional debut in the Rose Ladies Open on the LET Access Series.
She was surprised to see Maguire controversially left out of three of the five sessions by European Curtis Cup skipper Suzann Pettersen in last weekend’s defeat.
But after seeing the Co Cavan star show her class with an emphatic singles win over Ally Ewing, she’s more inspired than ever to make that European team herself.
“The reason I started playing golf is because I went to the Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle in 2011 when I was ten and said that's what I want to do,” said Byrne, who will get another chance to shine on the LET in next week’s Lacoste Ladies Open de France.
“It was a big surprise (to see Leona benched). But look, we never know what's going on behind team doors and what team captains have to do.
“But it was good to see Leona come out on the last day and get that win, and it definitely whets my appetite to try and perform as well as I can for the next two to four years, whatever it would be, and hopefully, I'll make that team eventually.”
Byrne will return to Florida next month for the penultimate stage of the LPGA Q-School. But she’s hoping to use back-to-back LET appearances and a potential LETAS start the following week to see where she stands against experienced professionals and get ready for the LPGA Q-School from October 15-18.
“I’m just trying to see where I'm at compared to the other girls,” she said, admitting she’s surprised how similar tour life is to elite college golf in the US.
“It's a little bit more hectic than college, but I’m learning how many weeks in a row works for me, and stuff like that; just taking it all in my stride and seeing how it goes. I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself.
“Other than that, I was surprised how it's all quite similar to what I was doing before, and nothing feels too different.”
On the Challenge Tour, Conor Purcell, Dermot McElroy, Gary Hurley, Jonathan Caldwell, Ronan Mullarney, Conor O’Rourke, Cormac Sharvin and JR Galbraith play the Italian Challenge Open at Argentario.
Meanwhile, Castleknock’s Paul Coughlan made six birdies in a five-under 67 to take a two-shot lead over Douglas’ Peter O’Keeffe, and Scotland’s Matthew Wilson after the first round of the North of Ireland Amateur Open at Royal Portrush.
