Ballinrobe’s Shannon Burke ended a 13-year wait for the Connacht Women’s O18 Senior Championship with a resounding victory in sunny Bearna.
She shot back-to-back rounds of 74 to win by four shots on four-over-par from Killarney’s Valerie Clancy, Ballykisteen’s Caitlin Shippam and Douglas’ Clodagh Coughlan.
County Louth’s Ellen O’Shaughnessy completed the top-five on nine-over.
“I was chatting to Clodagh about it there. I think 2012 was the first Connacht Senior Ladies I played,” said Burke.
“I didn’t play all of them throughout the years but I’ve played for the most part and it’s really cool. To win something you haven’t won before is always really nice.
“I’ve been playing nicely, scoring hasn’t been fantastic at times. Sometimes I’m not getting the most out of my rounds but I felt good coming in here this week.
“I hadn’t played here before so I got up last weekend, just have a look around. Had a little bit of rain in the morning but this afternoon was lovely.”
Achill’s Julie Hassett shot 85 to take the Connacht Women’s O18 Junior Championship for the second time since 2021 by six shots from Newlands’ Rita Keane and Gort’s Siobhan Forde.
“It was nicer to win the second time around because I didn’t start off very well, I came back in the afternoon,” Julie said.
“I broke my trolley on the third hole. The nice gentleman, Darren, came out with a new trolley for me. I just settled down, it stopped raining as well, that helps.
“I’ll really enjoy this one and you never know, maybe more to come.”
