Leona breaks yet another record

Leona Maguire became the youngest ever winner of the Helen Holm Scottish women"s open amateur stroke-play golf championship recently, with twin sister Lisa third overall. The 14 year olds are fast making a name for themselves on the European golfing scene, and they both added to their reputations with impressive performances at Troon against an experienced field packed with internationals. The tournament started with 36 holes in the Portland course at the famous Scottish venue before moving to Royal Troon for the final days action, and despite the girls never having visited the course before, they both made sub-par starts to the title challenges. Lisa took an emphatic early lead with a six under par round 69 over the first eighteen holes to lead by three, while Lisa"s one under par round left her in fourth. An over par round is becoming a rarity for the sisters, but Leona"s two over par 77 on day two cut her lead to a single stroke, while Lisa was among those who closed the gap after her second one under par round. Normal service was resumed on the final day however, with Leona once again breaking clear of the chasing pack, shooting a two under par 73 to triumph by two shots. A bogey by Lisa on the 16th cost her any chance of sneaking into second, but four birdies and a third successive round of one under par ensured she claimed third. Leona"s victory comes hot on the heels of her recent success in the French under 21 championship, and they continued their winning streak a day later when they cruised to victory in the All Ireland Schools and Colleges Final in Dublin. The next big outing for the twins, who are both now playing off a handicap of plus two, is the Irish Ladies Close Championship at Foto Island in Cork, an event in which they claimed first and second last year. Leona defends her Lancôme Irish Women"s Close Championship title when competitors tee off at Fota Island Golf Resort, from Saturday, May 16 to Wednesday, May 20. As hot favourite to capture this year"s title, Leona, has made a remarkable start to the 2009 season, winning every event she has entered to date. In late March, she captured the inaugural Woodenbridge Scratch Cup, followed by the French Under-21 Championship at the start of April. The month ended with an emphatic victory in the Irish schools championships when she partnered her twin sister Lisa to glory for Loreto College. Lisa will be looking to stop her sister in her tracks and prevent a repeat of last year"s performance which saw her finish runner-up. Lisa too has made a solid start to 2009, finishing third at the 'Helen Holm,' and will be looking to claim her first piece of silverware of the season when the Irish close championship tees off on May 16th.