Aoife Kelly is aiming to bring a strong mindset into this weekend as the Galway Bay golfer prepares to compete at the inaugural West of Ireland Women’s Amateur Open Championship at Castle Dargan.
A field of 49 players will compete at the Darren Clarke designed Sligo parkland course for the 54-hole championship, with 36 holes of Stroke Play on Sunday before a cut ahead of Monday’s final round, where the first champion will be crowned.
Having first taken up golf in the summer of 2020, Dubai based primary school teacher Kelly has enjoyed a remarkable rise in the game. From an initial handicap of 25, she now plays below scratch, with her home club of Galway Bay providing the perfect base for her game whenever she returns to Ireland.
“The course is playing really well at the moment and improving every day. It’s a fantastic facility to play and practice at,” said Kelly.
“There are so many top Irish golfers that are members there too, so you’re constantly learning from experienced players. It’s brilliant.”
Kelly has already competed at both the South of Ireland Women’s Amateur Open Championship and the Flogas Irish Women’s Amateur Open Championship since returning home this season, finishing 11th and tied 23rd respectively.
As she continues to gain experience at elite amateur level, the mental side of the game remains a major priority.
“It’s about building experience with course management and my mental strength right now,” said Kelly.
“Going into the South, I kept repeating one word to myself, commit. I didn’t expect to finish 11th, so using that as motivation this weekend would be great.”
Kelly begins her opening round at 7.52am on Sunday alongside Ella Cantwell (Esker Hills) and Clodagh Coughlan (Douglas).
There will also be plenty of local interest, with Maeve Kelly (Strandhill), Jessica Reynolds (Co. Sligo), Maebh McLoughlin (Co. Sligo), Sophie Reynolds (Co. Sligo) and Sophie Dodd (Enniscrone) all set to compete at the historic event.
“It’s great for the game. More exposure, more girls playing, and more opportunities to compete in bigger events,” said Kelly.
“There are some brilliant players in the field. I try to soak up everything I can and learn from them while still focusing on my own game.”
Despite her encouraging recent form, Kelly’s focus this week remains firmly on gaining further experience at this level. A strong finish would mark another step forward in a golfing journey that has already seen her make remarkable progress.
“At this stage, it’s about overcoming the mental challenges that come with these bigger events,” said Kelly.
“On the outside I might look calm, but inside I’m nervous. That’s normal, but if I can relax, trust myself, and strike the ball well, I’ll be happy.”
The inaugural West of Ireland Women’s Amateur Open Championship gets underway at 7.30am on Sunday, with reigning AIG Irish Girls’ Amateur Close champion Hannah Lee-McNamara (Royal Portrush) and Flogas Irish Girls’ Amateur Open champion Olivia Costello (Roscommon) leading out the field.
View tee times and scoring here
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