Musical ode to Cavan golfing hero Leona
Solheim Cup winning Cavan golfer was given a hero's welcome back to Cavan last night
British pianist Sam Harrop is the man behind 'Leona's Song', a musical ode to the Solheim Cup winning Cavan golfer.
Parodying Alicia Key's 'Girl on Fire', Harrop from Bournemouth, on the south-central coast of England is a golfing fanatic, and was inspired to pen his own words in tribute to Leona Maguire's fairway heroics which he then shared on social media.
'It was a brilliant team performance by @SolheimCupEuro this weekend to retain the cup. But one player was particularly electric, namely @leona_maguire. And such an awesome rookie performance deserved an ode', he Tweeted.
Harrop has made quite the name for himself on the golfing scene, with pitch-perfect tributes to other PGA stars in the past, most notably Tony Finau who happily endorsed his own song set to the tune of a REO Speedwagon classic.
Leona was given a hero's welcome back to Cavan last night when she was chauffeured in an open top car through Ballyconnell, before addressing hundreds more fans who had gathered to hear from the star in the grounds of the Slieve Russell Hotel.
Leona showed the world what a class golfer she is with a series of awe-inspiring performances in Ohio.
After taking down world No.1 Nelly Korda and her sister Jessica on the 18th in the opening foursomes, then beating Yealimi Noh and Brittany Altomare alongside Georgia Hall in the fourballs, she teamed up with Mel Reid a second time to hammer Nelly Korda and Ally Ewing 5&4 in foresomes.
The first day result was particularly significant as the Korda sisters had won both their matches together in the Solheim Cup staged in 2019.
Leona and Reid cemented their legacy as a dominant duo for this year’s European team when tying in fourball session with American's Lizette Salas and Jennifer Kupcho to stretch the continent's lead.
On the final day of play, Leona made short work of her previously unbeaten former college rival Kupcho in singles play, at 5&4 , making her the single most successful Solheim Cup wild card of all time.
Leona, the world No 43, was Ireland’s first-ever player in the Solheim Cup. She was also the only player on either of the competing side to play in all five sessions at Inverness Club in Toledo.
The win capped an unprecedented individual haul of 4.5 points from a possible five for a tournament rookie, an incredible achievement from the Cavan native has been building on what was already an impressive 2021, including performing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
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