Maguires to lead Irish challenge at U18 girl strokeplay (golf)

Portuguese Ladie's Champion Leona Maguire and her twin sister Lisa, the current Spanish Ladie's Champion, will lead the Irish challenge at the inaugural Irish U18 Strokeplay Championship at Knightsbrook Hotel Spa and Golf Resort in Co. Meath next weekend.

The 54 hole tournament, a first for Ireland, has attracted the cream of Europe's underage golfing talent as players vie for valuable Ping Junior Solheim Cup ranking points for the biennial event at the same venue later this year.

The Maguires, playing off plus 4 handicap, are currently enjoying a magnificent run of form but will face stiff opposition from the high quality international field which includes France's exceptionally talented Manon Gidali and Celine Boutier who also play off plus 4. Alexandra Peters (ENG) and Ursa Orehek (SLO) tee it up off plus 3, a further nine players from the Continent play off plus 2 and sixteen players have entered off plus 1.

Lisa currently leads the PJSC rankings followed by Emilie Alonso (FRA), Leona, Noemi Jimenez Martin (ESP), Emma Nilsson (SWE) and Antonia Scherer (GER). Six of the top nine players with PJSC ranking points will be in action at Knightsbrook in Ireland's strongest ever gathering of such talented girl golfers.

The 72 competitors will play 36 holes on Saturday with the top 60 players qualifying for the final round on Sunday. The ILGU will also use the Championship to give Junior High Performance players Jessica Carty (Holywood), Victoria Craig (Clandeboye), Hannah Henderson (Ballyclare), Olivia Mehaffey (Royal Co. Down Ladies), Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) and Niamh Ward (Lurgan) valuable experience playing among Europe's elite.

Spectators of all ages are welcome to avail of the complimentary admission over the weekend.