Áine Donegan has plenty of big crowd experience despite still being an amateur golfer and she hopes she can rise to another grand occasion with a marquee tee time at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open at Carton House.
Donegan is in one of the featured groups alongside home favourite Leona Maguire and European Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist at 9am from the tenth tee with thousands of fans set to follow outside the ropes.
The Lahinch star knows how to deal with a carnival atmosphere having made two US Women’s Open appearances before playing a starring role for Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup last year.
“The only other difference this week is that we will have bigger crowds than we normally play in front of but I suppose I am fortunate enough that I have played in front of crowds before,” said Donegan ahead of her second appearance in the Irish Open as she looks to entertain the morning crowds before they follow Charley Hull in the afternoon.
“We have a lot of LPGA players playing, Charley and Madelene so it should be a great week. The stronger the field the better and Charley will bring a big crowd and should be brilliant.”
Donegan is on the cusp of entering the professional ranks after a decorated amateur career that saw her perform at her best in team competitions.
The 23-year-old came into her own once again in the Great Britain and Ireland colours as she helped Maria Dunne’s side to Vagliano Trophy glory for the first time since 2005.
“It was a brilliant week,” smiled the Clare woman. “It’s the first time that the R&A has held the Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy at the same time so obviously that was a big honour. It was so tight on the last day that everything happened really fast. It’s probably going to be my last time representing Great Britain and Ireland as an amateur so what a way to close it out, we had a great week.”
Donegan will have perhaps her final chance to impress in the green of Ireland at next week’s European Women’s Team Championships in France but she is putting all thoughts of that behind her as she gears up for a KPMG Women’s Irish Open tilt.
Her trusted coach Gary Madden of Glenlo Abbey is her caddie once again and it’s a case of same old, same old this week.
“Just do everything the same, don’t do anything different. I have Gary on the bag this week and at a lot of the tournaments where we have had caddies, he has caddied for me. Not to change anything up,” added Donegan.
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