Three in a row for outstanding Olivia Mehaffey - now for a rest
Royal County Down's Olivia Mehaffey with the Welsh Ladies Open Strokeplay Championship trophy - her third win in a row. Picture
Olivia Mehaffey completed a sensational hat-trick of victories at Southerndown on Sunday when she won the Welsh Ladies Open Strokeplay Championship by a single stroke.
It was a remarkable win for the 17-year old from Royal County Down Ladies — her third in as many weeks — following her third successive Irish Girls Open Strokeplay victory at Roganstown and last weekend's Helen Holm triumph in the Scottish Women's Open.
Winning four in a row would mean claiming the Irish Women's Open Strokeplay at Dun Laoghaire from May 23-24. But with Senior Cup action to come this weekend, she knows it's crucial that she gets some rest and recharges the batteries.
"It's been an awesome few weeks and I have been so lucky to have my parents with me for the last few competitions as they don't go to many," Olivia said after a three over 75 gave her the title on five over par 221 from England's Olivia Winning.
"I'm a little disappointed with how I putted in the last round as it hit it awesome all week. But it's be a great run and really satisfying to come through three times and deal with really windy condtions.
"It's Senior Cup for me this weekend with Royal County Down and then I have the Irish Women's Open Strokeplay. But my priority will be trying to rest, which is something I struggle with."
Olivia will get good advice on that when she hooks up with her strength and conditioning coach Robbie Cannon this week to talk about her fitness and another great tournament for Irish women's golf.
Castletroy's Chloe Ryan closed with a super 71 to finish fifth on nine over with Skerries' Maria Dunne tied for eighth after a 76.
Welsh Ladies Open Stroke Play Championship, Southerndown GC (Par 72)
Click here for hole by hole scores
1 MEHAFFEY, Olivia Royal County Down +5 F +3 73 73 75 221
2 WINNING, Olivia Rotherham +6 F +1 74 75 73 222
T3 POPEL, Bethan Long Ashton +8 F -1 77 76 71 224
T3 BROWN, Penelope Worthing +8 F +2 75 75 74 224
5 RYAN, Chloe Castletroy +9 F -1 77 77 71 225
6 HARRIES, Becky Tenby +13 F Par 76 81 72 229
7 SLATER, Emily Woodhall Spa +15 F +1 80 78 73 231
T8 BAILEY, Lianna Kirby Muxloe +16 F +1 80 79 73 232
T8 HOLPFER, Isabella Golf Club Fohrenwald +16 F +2 80 78 74 232
T8 HAUSMANN, Sophie Dusseldorfer +16 F +3 80 77 75 232
T8 DUNNE, Maria Skerries +16 F +4 78 78 76 232
T8 GILLUM, Katrina Lilleshall Hall +16 F +5 78 77 77 232
@OliviaMehaffey.Congratulations on a fantastic 3 weeks!! @IrishLadiesGolf u18,Scottish& Welsh S'play Champ. #awesome pic.twitter.com/lfNVdjR69a
— murphysweeneygolf (@philipgolf56) May 3, 2015
