Ella Cantwell has moved into the lead of the Bridgestone Women’s Order of Merit following her victory at the inaugural West of Ireland Women’s Amateur Open Championship at Castle Dargan.
The Esker Hills golfer produced a superb performance to secure an eight-shot victory, equalling the course record in the process as she made history at the Sligo venue on Monday.
Cantwell’s win, along with her T13 finish at the Flogas Irish Women’s Amateur Open Championship and T8 at the South of Ireland Women’s Amateur Open Championship, has thus far netted the 17-year-old a total of 628 points, putting her 43 points clear of 2025 Bridgestone Order of Merit winner Walsh.
Lee-McNamara is among the biggest movers in the standings following her runner-up finish at Castle Dargan, moving the Royal Portrush golfer into third place, narrowly ahead of Roscommon’s Olivia Costello.
Attention now turns to the next event on the women’s schedule, with the inaugural East of Ireland Women’s Amateur Open Championship getting underway at Woodbrook from 12-13 June, with 325 points on offer for the winner.
In the men’s standings, Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open Champion Patrick Keeling remains top of the Bridgestone Men’s Order of Merit, but his lead has narrowed with County Louth members Gerard Dunne and East of Ireland Men’s Amateur Open Champion Stuart Grehan closing the gap.
Dunne’s superb form this season, which has seen him finish inside the top six at the Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open, the East of Ireland Championship and North of Ireland Championship, leaves him second in the standings, just 51 points off top spot. Grehan’s historic victory at Baltray netted him 250 points and has moved him within touching distance of the lead, a further 15 points behind Dunne.
Less than 24 hours remain before the next men’s ranking event takes place, with the Connacht Men’s Amateur Open Stroke Play Championship teeing up at Galway Golf Club from 5-6 June
View the latest Bridgestone Order of Merit rankings here
Photo Inpho | Tom Maher
