Another major title captured by Mayo golfer

In the Mid-Amateur Women’s Open Championship on Sunday, Ballinrobe golfer Shannon Burke continued her remarkable season as she overturned a two-shot overnight deficit to claim her fourth major title of the year, writes Caomh Allen Breen.

Burke began her final round at Rosslare Golf Links with ground to make up as she teed off two shots behind defending champion Aideen Walsh (Lahinch).

That deficit quickly disappeared, however, when Walsh ran into trouble at the par-three third, carding a seven to hand Burke the advantage, which she duly capitalised on.

The Mayo native went on to reel off seven birdies across her round and, despite a determined fightback from Walsh, she held her nerve to hole the winning birdie putt on the 18th and secure her first Irish Mid-Amateur title.

“Absolutely thrilled,” said the Ballinrobe native. “Had a great battle out there with Aideen so happy to come out on the right side.

“I had actually said to myself if I could get to five under for the day, eight under total, I knew it would give me a decent chance, so I stuck to the game plan, hit it really well. So happy enough.”

Burke concluded: “Anytime you win something you haven’t won before it’s really satisfying.”

Meanwhile, Gary Collins said the support of the home crowd was a huge factor in pushing him towards the Irish Mid-Amateur Men’s Open Championship victory at his home course.

The 33-year-old also claimed the best overall gross prize, while another local Rosslare member, Mark Mullen, secured the men’s Over 40s title.