Ella Cantwell wins inaugural West of Ireland Women’s Amateur Open Championship

CHAMPION: Ella Cantwell with the trophy after winning the championship. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom Maher.

Esker Hills golfer Ella Cantwell said it was the culmination of a lot of hard work as she became the inaugural winner of the West of Ireland Women’s Amateur Open Championship.

The 17-year-old Offaly native equalled the course record with her opening round 65 yesterday morning and she closed out her third round with eight birdies in a brilliant 67.

Cantwell finished eight shots clear of Hannah Lee-McNamara (Royal Portrush) and Aideen Walsh (Lahinch) on 18-under-par to make history in Castle Dargan.

She now follows in the footsteps of Shane Lowry who claimed the men’s equivalent in Co Sligo in 2008.

“Definitely a nice one to have with Shane, great for the club,” said Cantwell.

“Everyone looks up to Shane in Esker Hills. I’ve got honorary life membership with him this year. It’s just really nice to have him from the club.”

Cantwell began her weekend with a phenomenal 65, which included five birdies and two eagles. She followed that up with a solid second round of 72 and that gave her a one-shot lead ahead of Walsh.

Cantwell did not look fazed during her final round and she pushed on with three birdies around the turn, to move to 15-under-par.

West of Ireland Women's Amateur Open Championship at Castle Dargan. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom Maher.

It was a sensational surge and Lee-McNamara mounted the biggest challenge with birdies on eight, nine and 12. Lee-McNamara had double-bogeyed the seventh straight after an eagle, which halted her momentum.

But it was Cantwell who took up a four-shot advantage down the closing stretch, that lead became seven when she reeled off three birdies in a row between 12th and 14th holes.

Cantwell birdied 17 too and despite an errant tee shot on the last she recovered to sink the bogey putt and put the seal on an emphatic win.

“I was seeing my coach on Friday and we just fixed something and I started swinging the club pretty well,” said Cantwell.

“My ball was going left and it was because my left hand was too strong, so I weakened it a little bit and just started hitting the ball straight.

“I was coming here to compete, I wanted to play steady golf and try my best to compete at the level that’s here and I did.

“I was delighted with my first round but I knew I still had to go out and play as well as I could and today I fought as hard as I could and I was absolutely delighted.

“It’s nice to see hard work and all that paying off. I’ll definitely enjoy this.”