Student Poots swaps the books for Baltray 

Sixteen-year-old tees it up at Flogas Irish Women's & Girls' Amateur Open fresh from success in England 

On form: Katie Poots comes into this week off the back of her victory last weekend at the prestigious Fairhaven Trophy in north-west England.

High school student Katie Poots will tee off at Baltray today in the opening round of the Flogas Irish Women's & Girls' Amateur Open with form on her side and a smile on her face as she takes a break from her studies to do what she loves best - smashing her driver.

Poots, 16, has arrived at Co. Louth for the 54-hole strokeplay tournament that has returned to its traditional May slot for the first time since 2019. The 2020 event was cancelled due to Covid pandemic and last year’s Championship took place in October, when Germany’s Charlotte Back won by three strokes from Ireland’s Beth Coulter.