ILGU - Top chances for Ireland at Espirito Santo Trophy

Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell), Olivia Mehaffey (Royal County Down Ladies) and Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) will travel to Cancun, Mexico this weekend ahead of the Espirito Santo Trophy, taking place from the 14th – 17th September.

Maguire, three time Curtis Cup player and world number 1 has represented Ireland on two previous occasions at the WATC; 2010 in Argentina alongside Danielle McVeigh and twin sister Lisa Maguire and 2012 in Turkey with teammates Stephanie Meadow and Paula Grant. Maguire competed at the Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil representing Team Ireland, alongside friend and fellow player Stephanie Meadow, Padraig Harington and Seamus Power. As one of three amateurs in the field, she finished in an impressive tie for 21st place.

Olivia Mehaffey will be making her way to Mexico from her new home in Arizona as she has started college life at Arizona State University (ASU). Mehaffey is the fifth best ranked amateur in the world and was a member of the victorious 2016 Curtis Cup team alongside Maguire. This year alone she has won the Welsh Ladies, Irish Ladies and Irish Close Championships, not to mind finishing 3rd at the European Individual Championship in Sweden. This will be Mehaffey’s first time representing Ireland at the WATC.

Finally, one of Lurgan’s most talented and up and coming stars, Annabel Wilson will compete in Mexico with Maguire and Mehaffey with the hopes of securing a top place finish. Wilson is a 2 time Irish Girls’ Close Champion. She has also represented Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) at the 2015 Junior Vagliano Trophy Matches at Malone and more recently was a member of the victorious Girls’ Home International Team, where she claimed 5 from 6 points to help Ireland lift the Cup.

Ireland’s other Curtis Cup star, Maria Dunne (Skerries) was unavailable for selection.

The biennial WATC, organised by the International Golf Federation, was first held in 1964 and recent tournaments have featured teams from upwards of forty countries. It is a stroke play event, in which the best two individual scores from three count on each of the four days. 2010 marked Ireland’s best finish in the tournament where the Maguire twins and Danielle McVeigh secured 11th place. Australia are the current holders of the Espirito Santo Trophy.

Further Tournament information can be found HERE.