The Flogas Irish Women’s Amateur Open Championship tees up this weekend, with Headfort Golf Club playing host to one of the biggest fixtures on the Irish amateur calendar. 79 competitors, both Irish and international, will take to the Christy O’Connor Jnr. designed Championship course for 54 holes of stroke play across Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Among those in the field is Marina Joyce-Moreno (Club de Golf Llavaneras), a rising star with deep Irish roots. The 19-year-old, whose father hails from Belfast and mother from Barcelona, returns to Ireland for what promises to be an emotional and exciting weekend.
With her father Graham by her side, watching on for first time in over a year, this championship carries special significance.
“I really like this tournament and this year I have the chance to travel with my dad,” said Joyce-Moreno.
“He hasn’t been able to watch me play golf for over a year so, it’s a good opportunity for him and for me to be together and get him to see my golf right now.”
Currently studying and competing in the United States, Joyce-Moreno recently completed her freshman year of college at Ohio State University and while the transition has sometimes been tough, she has embraced the challenge.
“The first four months were tough. I was very homesick at the start, but then we got into playing so many tournaments and I feel I’ve grown so much mentally,” said Joyce-Moreno.
“I see the process and try to stick with the process and just let the results come.”
Joyce-Moreno has been drawn in one of the standout groupings for the first two rounds, joining fellow American collegiate golfer Rebekah Gardner (Clandeboye) and Zoe McLean-Tattan (Romford), the recently crowned Flogas Irish Girls’ Amateur Open Champion.
“It’s exciting because I trained with Rebekah and we went to France and we’ve played in many college events together, but never in the same group so I think it will be fun. The level will be good,” said Joyce-Moreno.
“It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m super excited.”
Among those also challenging for the title this weekend are fellow high performance panellists Ellen O’Shaughnessy (Co. Louth) and 2024 Bridgestone Women’s Order of Merit winner Anna Abom (Edmondstown) while 16-year-old sensation and Portuguese Internacional Ladies Amateur Champion Louise Landgraf (Golf Club de Toulouse) will be one of the leading international contenders.
With the KPMG Women’s Irish Open and potential European Team Championship selection right around the corner, a strong showing this weekend could be the perfect launchpad for Joyce-Moreno’s summer season.
“It would make me so happy,” said Joyce-Moreno.
“I know things can click at any time, and being there with my dad in his country, it would make it super special.”
The 2025 Flogas Irish Women’s Amateur Open Championship gets underway on Saturday morning, with Abom and Kate Dillon (Oughterard) leading the field out at 8.45am before Joyce-Moreno begins her tournament alongside McLean-Tattan and Gardner at 9.40am.
View tee times and live scoring here
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