Amateur hour as Donegan savours dream start at Pebble Beach 

Clare student grabs an early share of the clubhouse lead at U.S. Women's Open after bouncing back brilliantly 

LOCKED IN: Amateur Aine Donegan tees off on the fourth hole during the first round of the 2023 U.S. Women's Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, Calif. on Thursday, July 6, 2023. Pic: Darren Carroll/USGA

Áine Donegan never planned on being at Pebble Beach a month ago before her spontaneous decision to try to qualify. The Clare amateur certainly never imagined holding a share of lead in the U.S. Women’s Open on the iconic course deep into her first round of her major championship debut.

Despite a three-putt bogey on her last hole of the day at No. 9, Donegan shot a 3-under 69 to sit tied in second place with Hae Ran Ryu of South Korea and Nasa Hataoka of Japan in the morning wave at Pebble Beach Golf Links. When Donegan finished, only Xiyu Janet Lin of China was ahead of her at 4-under.