After coming so close to winning the Irish Ladies Open Stroke Play title at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club last year, Niamh McSherry looks ahead to 2016 and reflects on how far she has come since first picking up a club nearly 10 years ago. 

It was a family affair for the McSherry’s and her current club Lurgan was where it all started, ‘All my family play and my Nan has played all her life. She was a big influence in me playing’. 

Lurgan Golf Club has recently produced a number of standout young female golfers, and one wonders how the golf club attracts and develops them. 

From Niamh’s perspective Lurgan is unique, in that ‘It is probably one of the best clubs. They have the juniors out all the time and they provide coaching and play different formats of the game to keep them interested’. 

Annabel Wilson is another prodigy and International from Lurgan and the two girls would often play and practice together, which provides them both with a supportive environment to develop their games.

Peter Hanna is the professional at Lurgan Golf Club and Niamh credits a lot of her development to him, ‘We have a good player/coach relationship and we share ideas with each other on a regular basis. He is a great all round coach’.

Recent Results (2015) 

• Scottish Open Stroke Play Troon 23rd
• Irish Women’s Open Dun Laoghaire 3rd
• Irish Women’s Close Rosapenna 3rd Best Qualifier
• Irish Girls Close Galway Bay Quarter Finalist
• British Girls Open West Kilbride  Last 64

Niamh quite openly shared her number one goal last summer, and that was to make the Irish Ladies Home International Team. She did that and showcased her talents against some of the best golfers throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Niamh secured two points from three singles matches. 

Her goals for this year are well defined with a short term objective being to win the Irish Girls Open at Roganstown and another  to reach the top five in the LGU Order of Merit.  

It is Niamh’s last year in girls’ golf and she pin pointed the Irish and British Girls Opens as two of the tournaments she would like to excel in. 

This is in addition to her ambition of making the Girls Home International Team, which she marked as her favourite tournament.

"It would be really great to make the team again and get the win this year, especially as it’s my last year playing girls’ golf. I love getting the opportunity to play foursomes and singles and it’s really special to represent your country."

For now, Niamh will continue to work hard in preparation for tournament season, which really kicks off for her at the French U21 Championship at Saint Cloud Golf Club on Thursday 24 March. She will also be joined by Julie McCarthy (Forrest Little), Olivia Mehaffey (RCDL) and fellow Lurgan member Annabel Wilson. 

Upcoming Schedule

May

• French U21 Championship
• Irish Women’s Open Stroke Play
• Irish Women’s Close
• Irish Girls Open Stroke Play
• Welsh Women’s Open Stroke Play 

Player Profile — Niamh McSherry

• Age: 17
• Golf Club: Lurgan
• Handicap: +1
• Women’s WAGR: 803
• LGU Order of Merit: 30
• Age you started — 8
• Most Memorable Achievement-  Being on the 2015 Women's Home International Team
• Favourite Golf Course — Dun Laoghaire
• Dream Fourball — Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer
• Favourite Club — 7 iron
• Lifelong Career Ambition — Be the best ladies amateur in the world
• Best Shot/Putt (Course, Club & Why?) — Drive at the 18th in Tramore. During the Women's Interpros I was all square in the foursomes with Niamh Ward. We were under pressure because there was out of bounds down the right and it was tight down the left
• Hobbies Outside Golf — Gaelic football
• Best Part of your Game — Driving
• Stroke Play or Match Play — Match Play
• Putter or Driver — Driver