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Hegarty named Golfer of the Year
22.10.08
by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent
SHROOVE golfer Gemma Hegarty’s will tomorrow receive
a fitting acknowledgment for her most successful
season in years.
She will be named Ulster Ladies Golfers of the Year
at the AGM of the Northern District of the ILGU
after finishing 15th in the Irish Amateur Ladies
Order of Merit, winning two scratch cups as well as
an Irish tournament along the way.
She also helped her club, Royal Portrush, to victory
over the Island in the Suzuki Senior Cup, held in
Galway. 2008 saw Hegarty also make her senior debut
for the Irish amateur ladies team in the Women’s
Home International golf tournament at the Wrexham
Golf Club in Wales, in addition to playing in the
Turkish Amateur Open.
The former Carndonagh Community School golfer has
received numerous awards in her 15+ years as a
leading Irish amateur. In the mid-1990s she picked
up Ulster Junior Golfer of the Year and Irish Junior
Golfer of the Year awards and represented Ireland on
three occasions at junior level. |
Because of work
commitments, Gemma doesn’t think she’ll able to
travel to the Shandon Park Golf Club in Belfast to
collect her award in person, but speaking to the
Inishowen Independent on Friday, Hegarty said she
was delighted to get the accolade.
“It’s a good honour and I am delighted to get it.
It’s based on my performance during the year and I
finished well up I the Order of Merit.”
Hegarty stressed that she doesn’t play golf for the
recognition however.
“I didn’t really think too much |
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about becoming Ulster
Golfer of the Year, I just focussed doing well in
whatever tournament I was playing in, but for me to
get it is a nice honour. “I would like to express my
thanks to Donegal County Council for their support
through the sports bursary grant which enabled me to
play in a wide range of tournaments this season.”
While season may be over for Gemma, another top
local golfer faces a big week on the course. North
West Golf Club professional Brian McElhinney is in
action at the season ending PGA Europro Tour
Championship event at Les Bordes in France this
week. A victory for McElhinney would earn him a
place on the more lucrative Challenge Tour for next
season as well as a cheque for almost €26,000.
McElhinney, who is in 12th position in the PGA
Europro Order of Merit by virtue of his win at The
Shire Golf Club in England in May, needs a top five
Order of Merit ranking to win a Challenge Tour
berth. “I haven’t played since Tour School
qualifying last month, but I’m in not too bad shape.
I don’t think second place will be good enough for
me to break into the top five, I will need to win.
From what I hear it’s a very tough course.”
Meanwhile, Greencastle FC star Niamh McLaughlin
lined out for the Republic of Ireland under-17s in
the UEFA Championship qualifying tournament in
Turkey at the weekend. The 15 year-old came on as a
substitute as the Republic came from behind to beat
hosts Turkey 2-1 on Saturday. She was also part of
the squad that beat the Faroe Islands 3-0 yesterday
to ensure the Republic’s qualification for the elite
qualifying phase next year. McLaughlin will also be
part of the squad for Thursday’s final group game
against the Netherlands, before flying home to link
up with her Moville Gaelic football colleagues ahead
of Sunday’s Ulster club football final. |
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