Mehaffey on the march — wins Helen Holm to set up hat-trick bid in Wales
Watch out Wales. Fresh from completing a hat-trick of wins in the Irish Girls Open Strokeplay last week, Olivia Mehaffey overcame a three stroke deficit to add her name to the illustrious list of winners of the prestigious Helen Holm Scottish Open Strokeplay at Royal Troon.
Now, thanks to her first senior international win, she’s certain to be one of the hot favourites to lift the Welsh Ladies' Open Stroke Play Championship when she returns to action at Southerndown next Friday.
The 17-year old is no stranger to pulling off a three-in-a-row as she showed by lifting the Faldo Ireland Championship, the Cork Ladies Scratch Cup and the Irish Girls Open Strokeplay in consecutive appearances 12 months ago.
Set to play for the University of Arizona from 2016, she became the second player from Royal County Down Ladies to claim the Helen Holm since Danielle McVeigh won in 2010. And she did it in style too with another impressive display of cool under pressure, closing with a three over 75 to win by one stroke from Anais Meyssonnier of France on four over 220.
Despite bogeys at the first two holes, she birdied the fifth and sixth to get back to parity and didn’t panic when she took six at the par-four ninth to turn in two over.
With overnight leader Linnea Strom of Sweden also suffering in the wind en route to an 82 and a share of fourth, Mehaffey birdied the 12th and followed a bogey at the 13th with what she said was a key birdie two at the short 14th.
Despite a bogey at the 15th, she was still leading by one from 15-year old Scottish talent Shannon McWilliam as she head down the last three holes.
And while she bogeyed the 18th, she rated the 10 footer she holed for a three at the par-three 17th as a huge moment.
“Troon is so like Royal County Down, I just love it,” a delighted Mehaffey said. “I love Scotland. It feels just like being home.”
She added: “The last six holes were brutal. But I am delighted. This is my first senior international event [victory], and definitely the best thing I’ve won so far.”
Mehaffey’s win is also a vote of confidence for the ILGU’s High Performance Programme and the champion did not forget her coaches or her mentor at Royal County Down.
“Robbie Cannon, Donal Scott, Kevan Whitson, Chris Jelly!” she said. “I can’t thank them enough for all their support."
Meysonnier (78) eventually finished second on five over with McWilliam (79) third on six over while Castletroy’s Chloe Ryan was 10th on 11 over, helping Ireland (and her partner Mehaffey) win the team title by four strokes from England on 15 over.
Helen Holm Scottish Open Stroke Play Championship
Rounds 1 and 2, Troon Portland; Round 3 Royal Troon
1 MEHAFFEY, Olivia U18 Royal County Down Ladies +4 F (1) +3 72 73 75 220
2 MEYSSONNIER, Anais U18 Paris Country Club +5 F (1) +6 72 71 78 221
3 MCWILLIAM, Shannon U18 Aboyne +6 F (1) +7 71 72 79 222
T4 CLEWS, Gemma Delamere Forest +8 F (1) Par 74 78 72 224
T4 LAISNE, Agathe U18 Racing Club de France +8 F (1) +5 71 76 77 224
T4 MEHMET, Inci Royal Mid-Surrey +8 F (1) +5 69 78 77 224
T4 STROM, Linnea Goteborg GC +8 F (1) +10 68 74 82 224
T8 LAMB, Sophie U18 Clitheroe +10 F (1) +6 73 75 78 226
T8 BOWERS, Jae Prestbury +10 F (1) +8 68 78 80 226
T10 HEALEY, Eloise U18 West Lancashire +11 F (1) +4 74 77 76 227
T10 CLYBURN, India Woodhall Spa +11 F (1) +6 73 76 78 227
T10 RYAN, Chloe Castletroy +11 F (1) +6 73 76 78 227
T10 BAILEY, Annabel U18 Kirby Muxloe +11 F (1) +5 72 78 77 227
T10 MUSE, Hollie U18 West Lancashire +11 F (1) +10 68 77 82 227
T23 DOYLE, Mary U18 The Heath +14 F (1) +5 76 77 77 230
T23 MCSHERRY, Niamh U18 Lurgan +14 F (1) +7 73 78 79 230
T28 GRANT, Paula Lisburn +15 F (1) +7 76 76 79 231
T28 WILSON, Annabel U18 Lurgan +15 F (1) +8 73 78 80 231
T33 SEXTON, Sinead Lahinch +16 F (1) +7 73 80 79 232
T54 ROSS, Jessica Donaghadee +22 F (1) +9 76 81 81 238
CUT
MC BURKE, Shannon Ballinrobe +17 79 82 161
MC DIAMOND, Maura Royal Portrush +24 88 80 168
MC CRAIG, Victoria U18 Royal Belfast +24 82 86 168
