Sara Byrne kicked off a big week for Irish women’s golf in California last night by qualifying for the next stage of the LPGA Qualifying School.
The Douglas amateur (23) closed with a two over 74 on the Dinah Shore Course to finish tied 35th in the Pre-Qualifying Tournament at Mission Hills and secure her place at the Qualifying Tournament in Florida in October.
If she gets through that stage, she will have a chance to battle for her LPGA card at the five-round Q-Series final stage in December.
Exactly 100 players made the top 95 and ties who made it through Pre-Qualifying in California on one-over or better, with Byrne tied 35th on five-under
There was a cut to the top 125 and ties after 54 holes, but while Lahinch’s Aine Donegan missed out by two shots on four over with Elm Park’s Anna Foster a shot further back, both have lots to look forward to this week.
Donegan joins Byrne and Beth Coulter in Catriona Matthew’s Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup team on Friday as they take on the USA at Sunningdale, bidding to win for the first time since the 11.5-8.5 triumph at Dun Laoghaire in 2016.
Foster is a reserve for Sunningdale, but she will make her professional debut in this week’s KPMG Women’s Irish Open at Carton House, where Lurgan’s Annabel Wilson will also be joining the paid ranks.
They join Leona Maguire, Olivia Mehaffey and Carton House’s touring professional Lauren Walsh at the O’Meara Course as well as amateurs Emma Fleming, Kate Lanigan, Olivia Costello, and Aideen Walsh, who will make their second Irish Open appearances after playing at Dromoland Castle in 2023.
Fellow Irish amateurs Roisin Scanlon, Kate Dillon, Canice Screene, and Anna Abom will challenge them for low amateur honours.
Schoolteacher Walsh won the Irish Women’s Mid-Amateur title at Tipperary on Sunday, while Costello (16) played a major role in Great Britain and Ireland’s historic first win in the Junior Vagliano Trophy at West Lancashire on Saturday.
