Mayo golfer Shannon Burke looks for momentum in Blainroe
The 2024 season brought plenty of team success for Shannon Burke but now, as the new season gets underway, the focus turns to individual accolades for the Ballinrobe golfer, who is set to tee it up at the Leinster Over 18 Women’s Championship, writes Caomh Breen Allen.
The Golf Ireland 2025 championship season officially gets underway this morning (Thursday) as over 80 players are set to battle it out on the coastal parkland of Blainroe Golf Club for both the Leinster Championship and the Duggan Cup. Just 18 holes of strokeplay stands between the field and the perfect start to their golfing year.
Burke will count herself among the top contenders. She enters the event knowing that her performances with the AIG Senior Cup-winning Douglas side and European Mid-Amateur bronze medal-winning Irish team has reminded her that there is 'a bit of competitive golf left' in her yet.
The 29-year-old lectures in sports and exercise psychology modules at the Munster Technological University in Cork, and with psychology such a major part of Burke’s professional life, it is no surprise that side of the game is a key focus when she takes to the course.
“A lot of the work that I do, not even just in the university but also with players outside of it, I can lean into some of that then when I'm actually playing,” said Burke.
“You see Rory (McIlroy) at the weekend and the range of emotions that he would have felt, and it's just being very aware that when you're competing at a high level, you're going to feel a range of different emotions.
“Some of them will be good, some of them will be bad. It's just being prepared for those and being able to lean into them when they do arrive, and then just trying to, as much as possible, it's a bit cliche, but stay in the present moment and play the shot in front of you.”
Play is set to tee off at 8.30 a.m. today, with Myrissa Yamashiro (Delgany), Maria Harris (Hermitage) and Ruth Henderson (Blainroe) getting the tournament underway.
Burke will tee off at 1.30 p.m. as part of the final group alongside Ellen O'Gorman (Laytown & Bettystown) and Douglas team-mate Karen O'Neill.
With Clodagh Coughlan (Douglas) also teeing up tomorrow, there is bound to be a mix of some friendly rivalry and plenty of support among the trio.
“We all probably drive each other on, but in a really nice environment,” said Burke.
“A lot of people ask us about the Senior Cup last year and how we must have practiced and did a lot of things together as a team, but for the most part we just gelled really well as a team and then, in these individual competitions, it definitely drives us on to play a little better.”
View the opening round tee times here.