Clare dynamo Donegan shines as Leona’s putter goes cold at Women's Irish Open

TOE-TO-TOE: Aine Donegan loves the spotlight and she showed at Carton House that she’s not afraid to go toe-to-toe with the best when she opened with a two-under 71 in the KPMG Women’s Irish Open. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Aine Donegan loves the spotlight and she showed at Carton House that she’s not afraid to go toe-to-toe with the best when she opened with a two-under 71 in the KPMG Women’s Irish Open.

The Lahinch amateur arrived in Co Kildare running on fumes after teaming up with Beth Coulter to help Great Britain and Ireland win the Vagliano Trophy for the first time in 20 years just last weekend.

The 23-year old from Ennis plans to turn professional after the World Amateur Team Championships later this summer and in outscoring her illustrious playing partners yesterday— Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist and star attraction Leona Maguire — she’s clearly no wallflower when it comes to performing under pressure.

"I loved it,” said Donegan, who had to hole two four-footers and a five-footer for pars on her last three greens. "I love playing in front of a crowd, it's way more fun and you get more adrenaline from that, but it was great.” 

Her 20-year-old Irish teammate Emma Fleming from Elm Park leads the home challenge over the O’Meara Course, where a four-under 69 left her tied for ninth, just two shots behind Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini — last year’s Order of Merit winner — and Spain’s Blanca Fernandez.

They shot 67s to lead by a shot from England’s Hannah Screen and Mimi Rhodes, Swedish Solheim Cup star Madelene Sagstrom and her compatriot Lisa Pettersson, Alexandra Swayne from the U.S Virgin Islands and world amateur number one Lottie Woad.

Sagstrom got to eight-under after an eagle at the fourth (her 13th) but shanked her third and tripled bogeyed the fifth.

Donegan is well-placed in a tie for 25th with Elm Park rookie Anna Foster, who was five under after ten holes before frittering away three strokes as the wind got up from midday.

"I probably would have taken it, I suppose,” said the Co Clare woman, who birdied three of her first four holes en route to her 71 as Maguire holed little on the greens for a one-under 72 and Nordqvist posted a 75.

“It's good, I could have gone a lot better. I started well, I was three-under through four, and I hit a few loose shots around the middle of the round and got better towards the end."

After playing all four rounds in the US Women’s at Pebble Beach in 2023, Donegan played on the winning Curtis Cup team last year and can’t wait to join the pro ranks.

"I'm looking forward to it,” she said. “I think the fact that so many Irish girls are on the LET makes me look forward to it a little bit more. Just to have a few people to always travel with is nice.” 

IMPRESSED: Leona Maguire is impressed by what she has seen from Aine Donegan. Pic :Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Maguire was impressed by what she saw from Donegan, having played with her in Dromoland Castle two years ago.

“She played great,” Maguire said. “She got off to a very hot start. Two under is a very nice start for her. I played with her in this a few years ago in Dromoland, and I was kind of surprised she didn't actually turn pro this week. But she's a great player, and it will be a great experience for her this week.” 

As for her round, the Co Cavan star admitted her score was not a great reflection of how well she hit the ball from tee to green.

“I played some really nice golf,” she said. “I feel like I've left quite a few shots out there and didn't take advantage of some of the shots on my back nine, but overall, it’s still an under-par round to start the week… Overall, I'm happy with how I gave myself lots of chances. Hopefully, I can take more advantage of the par fives tomorrow.” 

Fleming won the Victorian Amateur Championship in Australia last month and took that form back home as she made five birdies in her four-under 67.

“I missed the cut last year and made the cut the year before, so hopefully I can do better this time,” said Fleming, who is unsure about a professional career.

“I’m studying economics and finance (in UCD), I am trying to move forward with my academics and then maybe, you never know.

“My family is very academically orientated. We have always valued academics as a strong Plan B if you were going to turn pro or whatever. I am into my third year now, so I have two more years to decide. We will see.” World number 19 Charley Hull threatened to go low when she birdied four of her first five holes in the windier afternoon conditions.

But she had to settle for a three-under 70 alongside Douglas’ Sara Byrne (75) as she bogeyed the eighth and ninth before following birdies at the 10th and 13th with a three-putted bogey at the last.

“The greens were a little bit bobbly towards the end after the rain,” Hull said. “That’s why I three-putted the last. But no, pretty good, pretty happy. The wind definitely got up this afternoon. So looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow.” Just five of the 16-strong Irish contingent were inside the cut line with Canice Screene’s level par 73 leaving her amongst the top 60 professionals who will make the weekend.

Tramore’s Anna Dawson was just outside the mark after a battling 74 featuring four birdies, two bogeys and a triple bogey at her 12th hole.

Friday Tee Times

First hole 

8.00am: A Swayne (ISV), B Navarrosa (USA), C Kauffmann (GER) 

8.12am: E Moosmann (SUI), K Arwefjall (SWE), A Klotz (FRA) 

8.24am: C Williams (WAL), D Du Toit (RSA), A-C Mora (FRA) 

8.36am: K Napoleaova (CZE), M MacLaren (ENG), E Grechi (FRA) 

8.48am: L Young (ENG), C Screene (IRL), P Mack (GER) 

9.00am: D Forbrigd (NOR), S Kibsgaard Nielsen (DEN), H Lee (ESP) 

9.12am: C Herbin (FRA), S Bringner (SWE), M J Moreno (NIR) (a) 

9.24am: H Tamy Kreuzer (GER), E Givens (ENG), R Scanlon (IRL) (a) 

9.36am: T Toscano (ESP), A Magnusson (SWE), C Finne-Ipsen (DEN) 

9.48am: T Mazarino (NOR), A Latorre (ESP), H Bakshi (IND) 

10.00am: S Nuutinen (FIN), G Bjorgvinsdottir (ISL), A Abom (IRL) (a) 

1.00pm: H Screen (ENG), L Harm (GER), U Wikstrom (FIN) 

1.12pm: P Babnik (SLO), L Pettersson (SWE), B Coulter (IRL) (a) 

1.24pm: D Harry (WAL), S Tarning Soenderby (DEN), T Cheenglab (THA) 

1.36pm: L Walsh (IRL), M Sagstrom (SWE), C Tamburlini (SUI) 

1.48pm: A Foster (IRL), M Rhodes (ENG), C Gainer (ENG) 

2.00pm: L Maguire (IRL), A Nordqvist (SWE), A Donegan (IRL) (a) 

2.12pm: A Fuller (ENG), K Bennett (AUS), A Dawson (IRL) (a) 

2.24pm: C Noja (GER), D Dagar (IND), N Komulainen (FIN)

2.36pm: M Hinson-Tolchard (AUS), A Huang (CAN), E Penttila (FIN) 

2.48pm: C Chevalier (FRA), L Mcclymont (SCO), G Iziemgbe Oboh (NGR) 

3.00pm: T Melecka (CZE), A Nobilio (ITA), E Fleming (IRL) (a) 

Tenth hole 

8.00am: R Davies (ENG), E Hamilton (ENG), B Fernandez (ESP)

8.12am: L Fuenfstueck (GER), C Laffar (ENG), J Wrigley (SWE) 

8.24am: P Delacour (FRA), A Hewson (ENG), K Rudgeley (AUS) 

8.36am: A Wilson (NIR), O Cowan (GER), L Woad (ENG) (a) 

8.48am: B Law (ENG), O Mehaffey (NIR), K Davidson Spilkova (CZE) 

9.00am: S Byrne (IRL), C Hull (ENG), G Hall (ENG) 

9.12am: N Nadaud (FRA), L Sobron Galmes (ESP), M Kobori (NZL) 

9.24am: P I Schmidt (GER), F Fernandez Cano (ESP), A Utama (THA) 

9.36am: A Sauzon (FRA), M Hernandez (ESP), M Martin (ESP) 

9.48am: T Martin (ENG), M Sanz Barrio (ESP), M Hoogeboom (NED) 

10.00am: M Finn (SWE), C Sattelkau (GER), M Simmermacher (ARG) 

1.00pm: N Host Husted (DEN), M Dennis (ENG), T Malik (IND) 

1.12pm: K Macdonald (SCO), S Bregman (RSA), S Kemp (AUS) 

1.24pm: A Zanusso (ITA), B-J Smith (ENG), P Mackova (CZE) 

1.36pm: M Haddioui (MAR), L Hall (WAL), K Henry (SCO) 

1.48pm: A Fanali (ITA), A Garvey (NZL), W Keh (NZL) 

2.00pm: R Meekers (NED), V Gimmy (GER), V Bouvet (FRA) 

2.12pm: L Beveridge (SCO), A Walsh (AUS), A Prashanth (IND) 

2.24pm: G Ding (HKG), A Angurasaranee (THA), O Costello (IRL) (a) 

2.36pm: H Gregg (USA), M Skarpnord (NOR), A Taylor (ENG) 

2.48pm: E Peronnin (FRA), J Baker (ENG), E Sudow (SWE) 

3.00pm: A Uehara (JPN), D Zalewska (POL), R Gardner (NIR) (a)