Fantastic success for Offaly woman in big golfing major
Rahan woman celebrates huge win
AN Offaly woman had the biggest win of her young career when she stormed to victory in the inaugural West of Ireland Womens' Amateur Open Championship at Castle Dargan in Sligo on the bank Holiday Monday.
Having just finished fifth year at Killina Secondary School, Rahan woman Ella Cantwell showed nerves of steel to pull clear of a very talented field in Monday's closing round.
A member of Esker Hills Golf Club, it was a huge win by Cantwell who has had a superb career in underage ranks, winning several titles and competing for Ireland.
She is already assured of a scholarship to the USA once she completes her Leaving Certificate in 12 months time and she has chosen Abilene Christian University (ACU) in central Texas as her destination.
Her success came on a memorable weekend for Offaly golf as Tullamore native Stuart Grehan captured the East of Ireland Mens Amateur Open Championship on his new home course at Baltray in Louth on Sunday.
It was a huge breakthrough win for Cantwell in senior competition at the inaugural staging of this event. Her name will stand out in the record books for years to come and she showed nerves of steel as they went into Monday's final round with the overnight lead.
She led the field after 36 holes of strokeplay on Sunday on -11, laying the ground work with a great opening round of 65 and a steady 72 in the second 18.
Aideen Walsh of Lahinch was one behind on -10 and there was a gap then to Shannon Burke of Ballinrobe and Caithlin Shippam of Ballykisteen who are on -7.
Hannah Lee McNamara was one further behind on -6: a member of Royal Portrush, her father Ronan McNamara is a native of Banagher and won an All-Ireland minor hurling medal with Offaly in 1989.
McNamara emerged as Cantwell's biggest threat as she also had an excellent closing round but couldn't get close to enough cause real anxiety.
Playing almost flawless golf, Cantwell went out last with Aideen Walsh and Shannon Burke and it soon became clear that youth was going to be no impediment to her performing under pressure.
She took control early on and it was hers to lose by the turn. She was a sensational -7 for the day, -18 for the tournament after fifteen holes when she was a whopping seven shots clear of the second placed McNamara.
It meant that the closing holes were a victory procession and Cantwell duly closed out the deal. Another birdie saw her on -19 as she headed on a victory stroll up the 18th. She finished on -18, a really special -7 for the day and a clearcut winner over the field.
McNamara finished joint second on -10, -4 for the day with Aideen Walsh tied with her. Caitlin Shippam was fourth on -9 with Burke on -7 in fifth place.