Maguire impressed by rising stars' Curtis Cup heroics 

With Ireland’s top three female amateurs, Sara Byrne, Beth Coulter and Aine Donegan,  contributing strongly to GB & Ireland’s first Curtis Cup victory over the USA at Sunningdale, the future is bright.

Leona Maguire lines up her putt on the 18th green

Leona Maguire believes her game and the KPMG Women’s Irish Open are moving in the right direction after an encouraging final day for both at Carton House on Sunday.

The 27-year-old from Cavan rediscovered her putting form to shoot her best round of the week, a five-under-par 68 and though it was only good enough for a tie for 15th place, nine shots adrift of eventual winner Annabel Dimmock and the Englishwoman’s play-off rival Pauline Roussin-Bouchard of France, it came at just the right time with her third Solheim Cup appearance for Europe looming.