HRYNIEWIECKA-IRWIN WINS WOMEN’S AMATEUR AT LOUGH ERNE
England’s Aaliyah Hryniewiecka-Irwin wins the North of Ireland Women’s Amateur Open Championship at Lough Erne (Photo: Tom O'Hanlon/Inpho)
Teenager Aaliyah Hryniewiecka-Irwin became the first winner of the North of Ireland Women’s Amateur Open Championship as she battled back from a difficult start to seal the win at Lough Erne.
The 19-year-old Crosland Heath star from England, who was born in Enniskillen, suffered back-to-back double-bogeys early in her front nine, but she held her composure and birdied the 11th to place herself back firmly in the ascendency.
Her playing partner Jade Potter (Craigie Law) had back-to-back birdies on five and six but her challenge faded and Hryniewiecka-Irwin parred her way in.
“Over the moon, I definitely made it hard today, I’m glad I got it done in the end,” said Hryniewiecka-Irwin. “Nerves, just overtaken and I had to find my step and groove and settled down in the back nine and that’s what helped a lot. (11) kind of calmed me down. Taking it a lot slower, playing basic golf really, fairways and greens and that’s what helped.”
Molly O’Hara (Clandeboye) and Hannah Lee-McNamara (Royal Portrush) were the best of the Irish - they finished tied third on one-over. Jessica Ross (Clandeboye) continued her preparations for the European Ladies’ Team Championships at Slieve Russell in a fortnight, with a fifth-place finish.
It was a tight finish and Abercrombie Nesbit (Gullane) heaped on the pressure as she birdied 15, 16 and 17 to sign for a stunning 66 and a level-par total.
Hryniewiecka-Irwin had two rounds of 69 on Sunday to give her a six-shot lead at the summit but there were double-bogeys on two and three, and when she dropped shots at the sixth and eighth, she looked in real trouble.
However, despite being pushed all the way, Hryniewiecka-Irwin birdied 11 and that fist pump led to a change in momentum that would inevitably secure her place in the history books.
“My dad is from Enniskillen and I was actually born in Enniskillen too so it’s nice to do it,” said Hryniewiecka Irwin. “He always keeps me in check but he is good to have on the bag and to finally have a win with him on the bag.”