Irish Times/Vhi Healthcare Sportswoman Award for November:As we edge towards the end of 2006, with just our December winner required to compete our set of the 12 outstanding Irish sportswomen of the year, we noted that up to and including November we had chosen five newcomers to these awards, and five more who had already a sportswomen of the month prize to their names from previous years.
Our newcomers were athletes Derval O'Rourke and Joanne Cuddihy, hockey's Fiona Connery, rowers Sinéad Jennings and Niamh Ní Cheilleachair and Kelly Liggan from tennis.
Our award "veterans" were the leading woman from the equestrian world, Jessica Kürten; Madeline Perry, who has excelled in the sport of squash; the sublimely gifted jockey Nina Carberry; our overall winner from last year, Briege Corkery, once again a dual winner for Cork in Gaelic football and camogie, and Katie Taylor, the recently crowned world boxing champion.
An impressive bunch. But in November the balance was tipped in favour of our awards' veterans when golfer Claire Coughlan added to the monthly award she collected in 2004.
The 26-year-old from Little Island in Cork survived eight gruelling rounds to tie for first at the European Tour's Final Qualifying School at the La Cala Resort in Spain, securing herself full playing rights for the 2007 European Tour.
Beaverstown's Martina Gillen was also a contender for the November award after her success in Spain, when her 27th place ensured she will join Coughlan in the professional ranks next year.
But Coughlan's form in the tournament was exceptional, the former Irish champion and Curtis Cup player emerging as joint winner of the Tour school at her first attempt.
She tied first with England's Samantha Head, who she trailed by two shots going in to the final round, following an excellent 69 that included an eagle on the eighth and birdies on the fourth, 16th and 18th.
"I'm delighted to have come through the qualifying at the first attempt and to finish joint first was completely unexpected but very nice," said Coughlan, whose fiance, David Ryan, a golf professional at Cahir Park Golf Club, caddied for her in Spain.
"We didn't have too many expectations," she said, "it was a new experience so we just thought we'll see what happens. In the final round I just wanted to keep it simple and avoid mistakes, but it was good that when chances arose I was able to take them.
"It just feels tremendous. I was always going to try to get my card, but I suppose I'm a bit surprised I managed it so quickly. I was happy to be in the top 25, which was my aim, so to finish joint first was a real bonus."
Coughlan, who has achieved just about all the highest honours in the amateur game, finds herself in the pro ranks, promising new challenges and adventures in 2007. A perfect conclusion to 2006 for the Cork golfer.
