Nine Irish amateurs will tee it up looking to emulate their heroes at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open this week at Carton House.
For some it is a dream week while for others it’s a chance to test themselves at the top level to see if a step into the professional ranks in the future is truly for them.
This is the fourth edition of the Women’s Irish Open since it returned to the schedule with a record sixteen Irish players competing which includes an all-time high of nine amateurs, up three from 2022 and two from 2023 and 2024.
Anna Abom
Last year’s low amateur, the Edmondstown star is back again for another taste of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open.
The 19-year-old has completed her leaving certificate exams with the hopes of obtaining a Paddy Harrington Golf Scholarship to Maynooth University next year.
Abom is making her second appearance in the event at Carton House.
Olivia Costello
Somewhat a veteran of Women’s Irish Opens, Costello is back in action ahead of her fourth appearance.
The Roscommon teenager made her debut in Dromoland Castle aged just fourteen in 2022.
The seventeen-year-old has been in good form so far this season with wins in Woodbrook and Spain as she hunts a Junior Ryder Cup place in September.
Costello played a practice round with Leona Maguire this week and she hopes to deliver her best Women’s Irish Open performance to date and make the cut for the first time.
“Definitely excited for it,” said Costello who is under the tutelage of Leona Maguire’s coach, Shane O’Grady. “I played in it the last three years and had some really good experiences from it hopefully I can make the cut this year, that’s the main goal and I am really looking forward to it.”
Beth Coulter
Making her second appearance and potentially her last as an amateur is Beth Coulter who arrives with confidence high following a Vagliano Trophy win for Great Britain and Ireland last week.
Coulter missed the cut on her debut appearance in 2023 and missed last year’s edition as she was busy winning the Curtis Cup for GB&I in Sunningdale alongside Áine Donegan and Sara Byrne.
Anna Dawson
Of the sixteen Irish players competing in the KPMG Women’s Irish Open this week, Tramore’s Anna Dawson is the sole debutant after she secured an eleventh hour invite to compete at Carton House.
The 23-year-old earned her spot in the field after finishing 4th at the Flogas Irish Women’s Amateur Championship a fortnight ago and it opened more than one door for her with a spot on the Irish Women’s team for the European Team Championships next week in France.
“I’m super excited about my debut,” beamed Dawson. “I got in last minute so it was a quick turnaround but I’m really excited to be playing this week. It’s amazing, I was not expecting myself to be here this week but it’s amazing to see everyone around here as well.”
Áine Donegan
The Lahinch star has plenty of big crowd experience having appeared in two US Women’s Opens during a decorated amateur career which also includes a Curtis Cup victory and last week’s Vagliano success which will be her last stint with GB&I before turning pro.
Donegan has a mouthwatering tee time alongside Leona Maguire and Anna Nordqvist, having played with the former on her previous appearance in 2023.
“Really looking forward to it, last time I played was Dromoland in 2023. It was amazing to be in my home county and it’s the first time I have been Carton and it’s absolutely brilliant up here, brilliant venue and it should be a good week.”
Emma Fleming
The Elm Park star is making her third appearance at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open and she arrives full of confidence after a breakthrough victory at the Victorian Amateur in Australia a few weeks ago.
Rebekah Gardner
Rebekah Gardner is making her first appearance since her debut in 2022.
The Clandeboye star has been in good form having finished runner-up at the Ulster Strokeplay while she also had solid runs in the Women’s and Irish Women’s Amateur Championships.
Marina Joyce-Moreno
Like Gardner, the Spanish based amateur is back for the first time since her debut in 2022.
The Ohio State golfer represents Club de Golf Llavaneras near Barcelona.
Róisín Scanlon
Róisín Scanlon is coming into this in red hot form after winning the Scottish Helen Holm Championship and she will take plenty of confidence into Carton House.
The 17-year-old plays out of Woburn in England and she missed the cut on her debut last year.
Scanlon got an early glimpse of the eventual winner, playing the opening two rounds with Annabel Dimmock last year.
“It was amazing last year. It was really surreal. It was my first time playing in an LET event ever and for it to be in Ireland as well was special, especially because my grandparents got to come and watch me play at my tournament,” said Scanlon.
“I played with Annabel, which she obviously won it last year so just to see the standard of golf that was winning the tournament was amazing and to see all the other Irish women that I look up to, it was very special to be in that environment and to be inside the ropes instead of outside for the first time.
“The way that she carried herself on the golf course and then obviously she hit some amazing shots, but one of the things that I noticed mainly was that her putting was unbelievable.
“You can’t win a tournament without putting well, but she did that really well.”
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