Jenny Gannon typifies golf's new generation. She has no fear, neither of opponents nor the elements. And why should she? Only 19 years of age, the well-travelled Co Louth player has already sampled competitive fare in places such as Valderrama and Lake Nona in Florida - but the suspicion persists that she's far more at home on a windy seaside links.
Yesterday, at Portmarnock Links, on the sort of day that would test even an old hand, Gannon played magnificent golf to reach the last four of the Leinster Women's Open, sponsored by MacGregor. Her advancement was notable as much for the scalps she took along the way as for the manner of her wins.
Victory over Lillian Behan, the former British champion and current Irish champion, in the morning first round was followed by a barely believable 7 and 6 win over Yvonne Cassidy in which she was two under par for the 12 holes and required a mere 15 putts.
Gannon's reward is a semi-final meeting today with her Co Louth club-mate Oonagh Purfield who played some impressive golf herself in defeating holder and leading qualifier Alison Coffey in a match that stretched to the last green, while Maura Morrin and Emma Dickson will meet in the other semi-final.
Gannon won seven titles in junior golf and has progressed to the senior game with considerable ease. Amazingly, her win over Behan was her third in four match-play meetings. And it was an acknowledgement of the esteem that Behan holds the teenager that she stayed around to watch Gannon's afternoon win over Cassidy. It was worth following.
Gannon was one down after four holes, but then proceeded to win eight holes in succession including birdies at the fifth, where she hit an eight iron approach to one inch, and the 10th. "I'm the sort of player who loves match-play. I can really attack the hole," she said.
Meanwhile, Purfield's progress is as much noteworthy for the fact that she undertook wrist surgery in the off-season. "It was a risk, but it was worth it," said Purfield. Last year's beaten Irish Close finalist had to show all her mettle, however, to defeat Coffey in a battle royal.
The match was nip and tuck all the way, but Purfield delivered two killer punches towards the end. On the 16th, she rattled in a six-footer to halve the hole when it looked as if she would fall behind; and, then, at the 165 yards par three 17th, she hit a five-iron approach to 20 feet behind the pin. Displaying nerves of steel, she sent the ball three inches outside the left and could barely contain her delight when the birdie putt rolled in.
"I was pumped up alright on the last," remarked Purfield of her massive drive up the 18th where she halved the hole in regulation par to claim victory.
Morrin inflicted most of the damage early on in her 4 and 2 win over Sinead Keane. She was three up after six holes but, despite losing the seventh and eighth, she steadied the ship on the homeward journey with back-to-back wins at the 10th and 11th and a chip-in birdie at the 15th proved decisive.
Dickson had a far tougher assignment, though, and was required to go to the 22nd hole to finally overcome Hazel Kavanagh.
First Round - A Coffey (Warrenpoint) bt A McCaw (Royal County Down) 5 and 4; O Purfield (Co Louth) bt M Gillen (Beaverstown) 3 and 1; J Gannon (Co Louth) bt L Behan (Curragh) 1 hole; Y Cassidy (Dundalk) bt S O'Brien (Milltown) 1 hole; E Dickson (Royal Co Down) bt A Dwyer (The Island) 3 and 2; H Kavanagh (Grange) bt M McKenna (Donabate) 1 hole; S Keane (Curragh) bt D Smith (Co Louth) 5 and 4; M Morrin (Naas) bt P Delaney (Elm Park) 4 and 3.
Quarter-Finals - Purfield bt Coffey 1 hole; Gannon bt Cassidy 7 and 6; Dickson bt Kavanagh at 22nd; Morrin bt Keane 4 and 2.
Today's Programme: Semi-finals: 8.30 - Purfield v Gannon. 8.40 - Dickson v Morrin. Final at 1.15.
