Donegan looks ready for pro ranks after earning Maguire plaudits

It speaks volumes for how Lahinch amateur Áine Donegan played on day one of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open that Leona Maguire couldn’t believe she hadn’t turned professional in time for the Carton House event.

As far as Maguire is concerned, Donegan would have been guaranteed a paycheque this week had the entered the pro ranks and the Irish international never looked out of place with a two-under 71 leaving her in good stead to make the cut at the very least.

Donegan, making her second Irish Open appearance, bounced onto the O’Meara course earlier this week after eagling the last to help GB&I to a first Vagliano Trophy success over Europe since 2005 and she continued her momentum as she looks to end her amateur career with as many accolades as possible.

Three birdies in her first four holes had her briefly tied for the lead alongside her former Ireland teammate Anna Foster but as the wind got up towards the early afternoon she mixed three bogeys with two birdies to lie four shots off the pace.

“Last week was amazing I am very tired,” laughed Donegan who plans to turn professional at the end of the amateur season with European and World Championships to come with Ireland. ”

“I can’t wait to go home to bed. We haven’t won the Vagliano since 2005 and we’ve never had it with the Curtis Cup so to have an Irish captain (Maria Dunne) and to have Beth (Coulter) on the team there was a nice Irish contingent there and it was a really good week. I came in off a high.

“I probably would have taken it I suppose it’s good, I could have gone a lot better. I started well I was three-under through four and I hit a few loose shots around the middle of the round and got better towards the end. I’ll take it I had two five footers on 16 and 17 and a four footer down the hill for par so I’ll take it.”

Donegan’s leap into the pro ranks is imminent and she doesn’t believe it will be a stern transition with plenty of company awaiting her on the Ladies European Tour in Foster, Sara Byrne, Lauren Walsh, Annabel Wilson and Canice Screene.