Mayo golfer captures Munster title in Castletroy

Ballinrobe's Shannon Burke capped off a superb season with her third championship victory, firing a course record-equalling 69 (-5) to win the Munster Over 18 Women’s Senior Amateur Open Championship at Castletroy Golf Club at the weekend, writes Caomh Breen Allen.

Already crowned Leinster and Connacht Over 18 senior champion earlier this year, Burke arrived at the Limerick course in fine form and got off to a strong start, with three birdies and a bogey on the front nine to make the turn at two under par.

Another birdie followed at the 11th before a superb closing stretch saw her add birdies at 16 and 17 and she would go on to finish in style with an eagle on the par-five 18th.

The five-under-par round left her clear of nearest challengers Paula Walsh (Doneraile) and Aine Martin (Kanturk).

“Had a super day out there. Hit it lovely so it was nice to finish well with an eagle on the last,” said Burke.

“The wind got up, and so at times it was quite difficult out there, but I hit my irons quite nicely in particular and then I knew coming in there’s some chances there so I kind of just stuck in there and knew I’d have chances coming in."

Shannon continued: “I’ve been playing well throughout the entire season, so it’s been nice to have that when we go out and play in championships. Absolutely thrilled.”

Meanwhile, the Junior Championship was settled in dramatic fashion after Yvonne Courtney (Macroom) and Roisin Quinlivan (Clonmel) could not be separated following their 18 holes of stroke play, with both players carding rounds of 85.

A sudden-death playoff would be needed to decide the championship, and it took until the 22nd hole before Courtney rolled in the decisive putt on the fourth green, celebrating with fellow Macroom member Eileen Healy.

“Absolutely blown away,” said Courtney. “Delighted. Did not expect this coming up today. I got up and down well on a couple of the holes. Absolutely delighted.”