Killarney: we’d like to keep Open in 2012

THE BATTLE for the 2011 Irish Open has yet to begin, but already potential venues are lining up for the 2012 renewal, including a Killarney bid for three-in-a-row.

Despite a high-powered campaign to bring the event to Northern Ireland for a first time since 1947, Killarney officials have confirmed they would like to host the Open again in 2012.

In an interview in tomorrow’s 32-page Irish Open magazine, free with this newspaper, Killarney secretary manager Maurice O’Meara confirms: “We proved ourselves last year and will do so again this year. The (European) Tour is pleased, the events around the tournament have been a success, infrastructure is all there and player reaction has been positive. So why go anywhere else in 2012?”

He explained: “When we pitched for the Irish Open in 2009, we went for one year, to see how it would go. But at this stage, if we were able to do it in 2012, then we would. Kerry people are proud of what they have and what they do, and I think we can exceed expectations again this week.”

Major champions Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke are behind moves to have the likes of Royal Portrush included on the Open Championship rota, and the argument to bring the Irish Open north is seen as a forerunner to same. There hasn’t been an Irish Open north of Baltray since the renewal of the event in the seventies — the previous three occasions were in 1930, 1937 and 1947, all in Portrush.

European Tour chief George O’Grady, also in an interview in tomorrow’s Irish Examiner Open magazine underlines the hard work undertaken by the Tour and Fáilte Ireland to keep the Irish Open “on track” after a difficult few months following the withdrawal of last year’s title sponsor 3.

He too is confident Killarney will be a roaring success, but on 2012, he says: “We’re rock solid at Killarney, but how long it stays there, I don’t know. We may have to move, we may have to go to Dublin, we have to move it around the country.

“But Killarney was a great success in 2010. The town got behind it, there was a wonderful atmosphere, big crowds and 3 promoted it well in the local area. It showcased the local area too because all the hotels were hugely improved and quite frankly the Irish Tourist Board, Fáilte Ireland, realised the pictures of the area showcased Ireland very well. We will break even this year, it’s a determination. I don’t do egos now. I don’t have to have a big prize money fund, it will be what the tournament can afford.”

Meanwhile, Lisa Maguire continued the amazing run of recent Irish golfing success when she lifted the European ladies amateur individual title in difficult conditions in the Netherlands at the weekend.

Just six days after Darren Clarke lifted the Claret Jug as winner of the Open at Sandwich, the 16-year-old star from Ballyconnell, Co Cavan was striking Gold over the Noordwijkse course. She became the first Irish winner of this prestigious tournament since it was inaugurated in 1986.

And remarkably Stephanie Meadow of Royal Portrush produced one of the best final rounds to grab the Silver Medal while Lisa’s twin sister, Leona, finished fourth.

Lisa found the windy conditions tough on Saturday but never seriously looked in danger of surrendering her hard-earned advantage.

She went into the final round fours strokes clear but dropped a stroke on the opening hole. Later she extended her lead to eight but was pegged back to three at one stage. Out in 38, Lisa had one hand on the trophy but she bogeyed 10 and 13. However, her rivals were also dropping shots which meant she remained in pole position.

And in the end the teenage wonder could afford a double bogey on the closing hole and post a homeward half of 41 and still win by four strokes.

Lisa ended with a 72-hole aggregate of 293, five over par, comprising scores of 73, 68, 73 and 79 while Meadow was on 297.

Leona Maguire ended on 12 over, just two behind Bronze medallist Charlotte Kring Lorentzen.

Danielle McVeigh, the 2009 British Ladies stroke-play champion from Royal Co Down moved up 10 places on the final day finishing on 21 over par.

“My twin sister Leona had already won twice this year”, Lisa said yesterday. “In Portugal and in Ireland. I had only one victory (in the Spanish Amateur) so we’re even now. And this European title was the one I really wanted.”

The Dane, Kring Lorentzen, blew her chance on the long 14th as she drove the ball in the rough and without thinking, she moved a bramble that was still attached to the ground. That was in breach with Rule 13-2 (Improving Lie, Area of Intended Stance or Swing, or Line of Play) and it cost her two penalty shots.