Mehaffey thrilled by Augusta National invitation

Olivia Mehaffey reacts to a missed birdie putt at the fourth hole during Morning Four-Ball Matches at the 2018 Curtis Cup at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, N.Y. on Friday, June 8, 2018. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)

Olivia Mehaffey laughed off a cruel prank from her roommate and proudly showed off her invitation to play in the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship next April.

The Royal County Down Ladies' star, 21, is one of 72 top female amateurs who will tee it up in the new 54-hole event at the famous Georgia club the week before the Masters.

Olivia Mehaffey’s invitation for the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship

After two rounds at Champions Retreat Golf Club in nearby Evans from April 3-4, the entire field will play a practice round at Augusta National on the third day before the top 30 and ties after opening 36 holes go on to compete again at Augusta National in the third and final round.

Banbridge born Mehaffey saw her peers showing off their invitations online yesterday and was disappointed she hadn't received one until her roommate finally put her out of her misery.

"My roommate had it and was playing a joke on me," the Arizona State star said. "We got back from practice, and I told him, 'Oh I didn’t get an invite yet’. 

"And then he waited until after dinner and said something arrived for me today!”

Ranked 24th in the world, she added: "It feels pretty special. This is such an amazing opportunity for women’s amateur golf, and it’s a privilege to get to be part of it."

In amateur golf, Portmarnock's Conor Purcell closed with a three-under 69  to finish 34th on six-over in the Australian Master of the Amateurs at Royal Melbourne. Scores

Kinsale's John Murphy slipped to 62nd on 16-over after an 81 as Taiwan's  Chun-An Yu tied with Japan's Keita Nakajima on six-under before winning at the third tie hole.

At the South American Amateur Championship in Chile, Lurgan's Annabel Wilson shot a one-under 71 to move up to 10th on three-over at halfway, seven shots off the lead, as Lisburn's Paula Grant shot 75 to share 35th on 10-over. Women’s scores

Galway's Ronan Mullarney withdrew from the men's event with illness while Douglas' Peter O'Keeffe shot a level par 72 to leap to 23rd on two-over, eight shots behind leader Mario Fernandez de Oliveira. Men’s scores