Meath's Caoimhe O'Grady crowned Irish Girls' Close Champion

Hannah McNamara

17-year-old Caoimhe O'Grady from Dunshaughlin was crowned Irish Girls' Close Champion at Monkstown Cork Golf Club Friday last.

Caoimhe gave Black Bush and Royal Dublin its first Irish Girls’ Amateur Close title after beating Knock’s Katie Poots 1up in the final of the Irish Girls' Amateur Close Championship.

The Meath teenager is no stranger to the sport, she has been playing championships from the age of 11 or 12.

Additionally her father and coach Shane O’Grady is a respected teaching professional who has coached big names such as Leona Maguire and Lauren Walsh.

Caoimhe faced some tough matches throughout the week including a win against her sister Niamh in the first round on the 20th hole and a 1up win over Roscommon's Olivia Costello.

Caoimhe was delighted to claim her first win after a long wait for success since she first played for the Irish Under 16 team at 13:

"It feels amazing. I’ve been playing championships since I was 11 or 12 so to finally win one especially it be the Irish Girls is just amazing so ya, I’m so thankful and grateful.

"The course is in great condition, the greens are tricky, but they are in such great condition. Fairways are good, everything is really good, so the standard of the course was really nice, which helped the golf as well.”

Shane O'Grady congratulated his daughter on her success:

"I think the most enjoyable thing is to see one of my own do well as a dad more so than a coach. Teaching any of your family members anything is tough, but the biggest challenge has been to allow my two girls to enjoy and love golf rather than put them off it because it’s in the household so much."