Death of golf legend Garvey

WOMEN’s golfing legend Philomena Garvey, a winner of 15 Irish Close Championships, has passed away. She was 83.

The country’s most successful female amateur golfer was also a life vice-president of the ILGU.

Ms Garvey, from Baltray, in Co Louth, won 15 Irish Close Championships from 1946 through 1970 and never lost an Irish Close Final. She reached the final of the British Ladies Amateur Championship five times and beating Jessie Valentine for her only victory at Gleneagles in 1957. She represented her country at Home Internationals from 1947 through to 1969, played in six Curtis Cup matches between 1948 and 1960 and also played her part on winning Vagliano Teams.