Birthday girl Sarah Helly grabs Irish Close win

Enniscrone’s Sarah Helly gave herself an unforgettable 23rd birthday present when she shocked hot favourite Olivia Mehaffey by six and five to claim the Irish Women’s Amateur Close Championship over the Old Tom Morris Links at stunning Rosapenna.

Played in sparking sunshine at the spectacular Donegal resort on Sheephaven Bay, the final-year student at Marshall University in the US beat title holder Mary Doyle from The Heath two and one in her semi-final, as Royal County Down Ladies’ star Mehaffey saw off Howth’s Laura Doherty by the same score in the other semi-final.

Mehaffey, who joins the Great Britain and Ireland squad today for the Vagliano Trophy at Malone, was gunning for her fourth win over the year, following victories in the Irish Girls, Scottish Ladies and Welsh Ladies Strokeplay championships that have taken her to 59th in the world.