Leona Maguire was thrilled to see her game “click” into gear and rack up the lowest 72-hole score of her life to finish an impressive second in pre-qualifying for the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School in Morocco.

Irish women’s golf has gone through many ups and downs over the years but there has nearly always been a big star to keep things ticking over, from a Philomena Garvey or Clarrie Reddan to a Mary McKenna or a Maureen Madill.

Olivia Mehaffey carries Irish hopes into the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship semi-finals at Portstewart this morning – after world number one Leona Maguire suffered a shock last 16 defeat in round three.

Irish International Gary Hurley suffered heartache in the final of the Spanish Amateur Championship at Jerez yesterday, falling short in the final by the narrowest of margins.