Annabel sees off top oppositionon way to Ulster Girls’ crown

Niamh Ward won the event last year, and the honour remains at Lurgan for another 12 months after Annabel was crowned champion.

Annabel was not the only club member to take a title as Niamh McSherry won the McLeod Cup for winning the Plate.

The Ulster Girls is one of the most difficult Championships to qualify in as only the top eight players go through after 18 holes strokeplay so there isn’t much room for error.

Annabel qualified comfortably and took care of some really tough opposition en route to lifting the trophy.

In the quarter-finals she beat Catriona Griffin 6/5 only to be faced with the current Irish Girls Close Champion, Julie McCarthy, in the semi-final. Annabel was totally unfazed by such tough opposition and won her match 3/2. In the final she came up against Hannah Henderson, an experienced golfer who had dispatched Chloe Weir in her semi-final match, but thanks to some stunning approach play, which greatly impressed an ever growing following crowd, Annabel closed the match out early on the 14th with a birdie to win 5/4.

A tremendous achievement for such a young competitor and a girl who is popular with all members young and old.

With qualifying being such a tough task it is inevitable that some big names don’t make the cut for the championship and unfortunately one to fall victim to that this year was Niamh McSherry. Being the competitor that she is Niamh looked on this as an opportunity to add her name to some silverware by winning the plate and took care of her opponents in the quarter-final and semi-final 4/3 and 7/5.

In the final she faced tough opposition in Mairead Martin from Killarney, who is on the European Girls team along with Niamh, but Niamh showed all her skills from tee to green and Mairead had no answer especially to an eagle 3 at the 14th swiftly followed by a birdie 2 at the 15th for Niamh to win 5/3.

Past plate champions include Stephanie Meadows so a nice trophy to have your name on.

A great day for Annabel and Niamh. Everyone commented on not just their standard of play but how modest and sporting they were in every regard, great ambassadors for Lurgan Golf Club.

Well done girls, enjoy a well earned rest over the weekend before setting off for your next event.