Sara Byrne had another good performance at the LET Access tour in Sweden last week.  Fresh of the back of her 6th place finish at the Vasteras Open Byrne travelled to Upsala for the Capio Ogon Trophy.  The Douglas golfer started brightly with two level par rounds of 72 to lie inside the top ten.  A 76 on the closing day say Byrne fall to 12th place, but she picked up more important ranking points.  Between the two events Sara now has secured tour card status for the LET Access series for 2024 which provides her with playing rights regardless of whether she stays amateur or turns professional.

From Sweden Sara travelled to Finland to prepare for the European Womens team championships.  Cork will have two Irish internationals in action in Finland this week.  Mairead Martin was called into the Irish team for the European Ladies’ Team Championship following Áine Donegan’s US Open heroics.  Donegan was due to join Sara Byrne, Beth Coulter, Anna Foster, Kate Lanigan and Jessica Ross at Tawast Golf & Country Club in Finland next week but plans were changed after she made the cut at Pebble Beach.

Kanturk’s Martin was a recent nine-shot winner of the Ballybunion Ladies’ Scratch Cup, and the University of Louisville graduate now has a huge chance to make her mark on the big stage.  The Kanturk golfer has plenty of experience at the top level and Neil Manchip was happy with the late change.

“With Áine progressing so well at Pebble Beach it’s a wonderful opportunity for Mairead to showcase her skills at the European Championships in Helsinki,” said Golf Ireland High Performance Director Neil Manchip.

Cork has one other golfer on international duty this week.  Jack Murphy from Douglas has travelled to Geneva in Switzerland for the European Boys team championships.  Unfortunately for Murphy he missed out on the AIG Senior Cup last weekend due to travel but he’s looking forward to the putting on the Ireland jumper again.  Like Byrne, Murphy is also in fine form.  He was in action in Monkstown last week at the Irish Boys Close, and he finished in 4th place after the stroke play qualifier.  Unfortunately for Murphy he lost on the 19th hole in the first match play round.

Karl Bornemann is in action at the British Seniors this week in Woodhall Spa.  Like Murphy he also missed out on the AIG Senior Cup in Lee Valley last weekend as he travelled England to practice for the prestigious event.  In 2022 Bornemann finished in 13th place.  Tipperary’s Arthur Pierse was the last Irish winner in 2007 and Bornemann and the other Irish golfers will be hoping to add their name to the roll of honour.