Annabel retains Irish Close title

The 14-year-old member of Lurgan Golf Club defeated Lisa O’Shea from Shannonin tough conditions at the Galway Bay Golf Resort.

In the 36 hole qualifying Annabel qualified fifth with a four over par total of 152.

This set up a first round match for her with Aine Donegan which she won comfortably 5/4.

On Thursday the competitors woke to find the course barely playable in gale force wins but with no choice other than to continue. Annabel was completely unfazed by the weather and in the morning beat Grace McGrath 5/3 to set up an afternoon quarter final with Valerie Clancey who she duly dispatched 3/2.

For Saturday’s semi-final the girls were faced with not only the wind but persistent rain to make conditions even more unpleasant.

Annabel obviously didn’t want to hang about and made short work of good friend, and fellow international, Julie McCarthy 6/5 to set up a final clash with Lisa O’Shea from Shannon. Lisa had seen off a few big names in previous rounds, including our own Maeve Cummins and Niamh McSherry, but Annabel wasn’t going to let her make it 3 from 3 against Lurgan and made her intentions clear from the first winning it with a birdie. This set the tone for the match and Annabel came out the eventual winner 4/3.

To win back to back titles is a tremendous achievement and all the members at Lurgan are all very proud of how Annabel, and all the girls, continue to represent Lurgan on the home and international stage. Annabel’s next trip is to the European Young Masters.

Niamh McSherry also had a very good tournament qualifying with a one over par total of 149 and at the close of play both Annabel and Niamh were announced as part of the team selected for the girls home internationals which will take place at Lanark in Scotland from August 5 to 7.