Leona on course to qualify for rio

Damian McCarney

Cavan golfing supremo Leona Maguire is on course to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, the Celt can reveal.
Next year will be the first time that golf will be permitted into the pinnacle of sport in the modern era and captain Paul McGinley is expected to announce his Irish team next May. The top two Irish female players in the world rankings will qualify for the team and after another stellar year for the Cavan golfer, it’s almost a certainty that she will make McGinley’s team.
Currently, Stephanie Meadow from the North, who turned pro in recent years, and is a very good friend with the Maguire twins is the top Irish golfer - ranked 166 in the world. Leona is the second best Irish golfer with a ranking of 278, and to miss out she would have to be overtaken by the third placed Irish golfer, Rebecca Codd who is ranked 726.
“It’s highly likely at the moment,” enthused Leona’s proud father, Declan. “She probably needs one more good finish in one of those pro events and she will be in. At the moment it looks like it will be Stephanie and Leona.”
Will Declan be booking a holiday to Rio? “If she gets there you couldn’t miss it. Especially, with it being golf’s first Olympics.
“At this stage she doesn’t just go to take part,” says Declan.
It is no secret that Leona is considering turning professional next year. She will be emboldened in that decision by her impressive performance at the Evian Championship, even if her play wasn’t reflected in her position on the leader board at joint 34. Despite this, only one player from the European tour finished ahead of her.
Declan believes that her time in Duke University has greatly enhanced her and sister Lisa’s strength, which will stand to both against the pro golfers.
“That was the one thing I noticed when the twins came home last year,” recalls Declan, “they had got much stronger. To be honest if you haven’t the strength work done you won’t compete at that level.”