Cavan twins in the swing at Killeen Castle

Golf was the main attraction in Meath last weekend with the AIB Bank-sponsored Ladies Irish Open at Killeen Castle from Friday to Sunday attracting plenty of spectators and media interest. Cavan twins Lisa and Leona Maguire competed in the event which also provided an opportunity to focus on Knightsbrook Hotel Spa & Golf Resort, Trim, which will host the sixth PING Junior Solheim Cup in September next year. Lisa Maguire took the Philomena Garvey trophy as the leading amateur in a share of 40th place at the Killeen Castle event while Rebecca Coakley was the leading Irish player in a tie for 17th on four under par. The talented 15-year-old Cavan sisters represented Europe at the 2009 event at the Aurora Golf Club, Illinois, USA and are both likely to make the team for next year's premier team matchplay event for girls. Leona Maguire was one of six players who qualified automatically for the 2009 event and her sister received a wild card selection from the team captain. The event features the best 12 female golfers aged between 12 and 18 from Europe and the United States. The juniors compete match play in a similar format to The Solheim Cup, immediately ahead of the main event. "I had a great time playing at the 2009 event and to make the 2011 team and win the trophy for Europe in my home country would be unbelievable. "Having played Knightsbrook before, I know it will be a fantastic championship course," commented Lisa Maguire at the weekend. The Junior Solheim Cup always takes place immediately ahead of the Solheim Cup, due to be played at Killeen Castle from 23-25 September, next year. At Killeen Castle at the weekend Sophie Gustafson (Sweden) enhanced her prospects of returning to the venue next September as part of Europe's Solheim Cup Team after she won a thrilling AIB Ladies Irish Open and a first prize of €75,000. The seven-time Solheim Cup player shot a superb final round 66 on a day of perfect scoring conditions to card 12 under par and edge ahead of Norwegian Marianne Skarpnord and South Korean In-Kyung Kim. Gustafson showed her class by winning her fourth Irish Open following victories in 1998 at Ballyliffin, 2000 at Faithlegg and 2003 at Killarney. It was her sixth title on Irish soil as she also won the 2003 BT Open in Northern Ireland and the TSN World Cup partnering Carin Koch in 2000. There were seven potential European Solheim Cup team members in the top 11 places and two American prospects. England's Melissa Reid finished in fourth place on 10 under after a final round of 66. Australian Katherine Hull fired a 64 to finish fifth. Sweden's Anna Nordqvist, who made her Solheim Cup debut in 2009, finished sixth at eight under par, with Brittany Lang, who made her debut on the United States side in 2009, a stroke back in seventh. Helen Alfredsson of Sweden, who has made eight Solheim Cup appearances as a player and captained the European team in 2007, fired a 67 to share eighth with two-time United States team member Brittany Lincicome (68), 2007 Solheim Cupper Linda Wessberg (74) and Spanish hopeful Azahara Munoz (70). First round leader Maria Hjorth of Sweden (73) finished a stroke back in a five-way tie for 12th. Top 10: 1, Sophie Gustafson (SWE) 70 68 66; 2, Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) 70 66 69; 3, In Kyung Kim (KOR) 69 66 70; 4, Melissa Reid (ENG) 68 72 66; 5, Katherine Hull (AUS) 73 70 64; 6, Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 69 67 72; 7, Brittany Lang (USA) 73 68 68; 8, Helen Alfredsson (SWE) 75 68 67, Brittany Lincicome (USA) 71 71 68, Azahara Munoz Guijarro (ESP) 73 67 70, Linda Wessberg (SWE) 70 66 74. Top Irish player - 1, Rebecca Coakley (IRE) 71 72 69; Lisa Maguire (Am) (IRE) 72 74 72, Danielle McVeigh (Am) (IRE) 74 73 72; Leona Maguire (Am) (IRE) 72 72 76.