Mayo golfers creating history at UK tournament
A TEAM of golfers from Westport are competing in the 2023 Junior Clubs Home Nations national finals in Shropshire this week.
The nine girls have come through the Golf4Girls4Life programme at Westport Golf Club.
The invitation only tournament will see them compete against 11 other Under 18 junior teams from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
The team comprises Ellen Lonergan, Marykate Lonergan, Charlie Browne, Sarah Corrigan, Emily Griffith, Catherine Humphries, Marykate McHale, Grace Donovan and Lauren Brady Thornton.
The other two Irish teams taking part are Doneraile (who they defeated in the National Girls Inter Club final in 2022) and Carrickfergus, who were National Boys Inter Club winners, having beaten Castlebar in that final.
The tournament commences today (Monday) and when they tee off, the Westport girls will make history as the first ever all girls squad in the event’s 28-year history, where they will compete against teams of all boys and some mixed.
The format will see the 12 teams play four rounds of nine holes stroke play over days 1 and 2.
The teams will then be ranked by the placings of their top six from eight scores each day and will be categorised into Flight A (1st - 4th), B (5th - 8th) and C (9th - 12th).
On day three, each of the three flights will play semi-finals.
On day four each flight will have a trophy final and then a plate 3rd/4th match.
The Westport team range in age from 11 to 17 years. This may make them one of the youngest in the event, but they go into the competition with great determination.
* Follow the Westport team with daily updates on The Connaught Telegraph website and social media