Roscommon golfer Olivia Costello emphatically reclaimed the Flogas Irish Girls’ Amateur Open Championship.
The 2023 champion joins Olivia Mehaffey (three) in the history books, as the only players to have won this title on multiple occasions.
It was another stellar performance from the 18-year-old. Costello, backed up her solid rounds of 70 and 67 with another 67 on Sunday in Corrstown.
Costello finished on 12-under-par, seven-shots clear of Hannah Lee-McNamara (Royal Portrush). Who was unable to close the margin having begun the day three adrift.
“I struggled a bit the last couple of months. I had a lesson with my coach Shane there last week,” said Costello.
Costello went on; "I spent a couple of hours with him. It was a small bit of everything, but mostly to do with my ball striking, my long game, my irons. I felt after that I was coming in in a good place.
“I put in a good lot of work so it’s nice to see that has paid off. My irons again on the back nine were really good; I put myself into good positions and I had a few nice putts.”
Back nine makes all the difference
Costello had a solid front nine and birdies on five and seven paved the way for a six-shot lead at the turn. Lee-McNamara’s chances looked to have faded at that point, she bogeyed the first and followed up with another bogey on the seventh.
And there was no run coming from further down the field. Emma Ear (Golf de Fontainebleau), Selina Bartarya (Royal Blackheath) and Ella-Louise McCorry (Lurgan) were the only other players under-par for their front nine.
But Costello surged clear and five birdies followed, including three in a row between 11 and 13. While she finished with a flourish with putts dropping on 16 and 17 as she claimed another girls’ title.
“It’ll bring good confidence in my game. See what I’ve done in the last couple of days and weeks and months, they’re starting to pay off,” said Costello.
“Especially with it being my last year U-18, it was a nice way to finish. The Junior Solheim Cup is a goal.
“I’ll play in a few events and just see how it goes and if I give myself the opportunity to make it then that’ll be great.”
