MacLaren survives final round Grant charge

England’s Meghan MacLaren survived a final round charge by Lisburn’s Paula Grant to win the Irish Women’s Amateur Open Strokeplay Championship at Castle.

The 19-year-year old student at Florida International University birdied the 16th and 17th for a two over 74 to edge out Grant (70) by a shot on two over 218 for a wire-to-wire victory.

Three clear of Scotland’s Eilidh Briggs overnight and five clear of Grant, MacLaren got off to a horrible start with bogeys at the first four holes.

Grant turned in one under par to leave them tied at the top on four over with nine to play and then birdied the 12th and 14th to surge two shots in front.

The first turning point came at the 187-yard 15th, where both were bunkered but onlyMacLaren managed to get up and down for her par.

Just one behind now, Wellingborough golfer MacLaren drew level with Grant she pitched in from 45 feet for a birdie four at the 529-yard 16th after narrowly avoiding out of bounds when her fairway wood approach clattered into the trees.

Then at the 500 yard 17th she hit her third to six feet above the pin after a brave second and rolled home the downhill putt to edge a shot in front.

Twice a winner on the US college circuit in her freshman year,MacLaren is now hotly fancied to make the GB & I team for next month’s Valgiano Trophy in Paris, much to the delight of her father David, a European Tour Director.

Scotland’s Eilidh Briggs was third on 11 over 227 alongside Ballybunion’s Emma O’Driscoll (77) with Skerries Maria Dunne (74) fifth on 228.

England won the Nations Cup from Ireland with Scotland in third and Brazil fourth.