Mayo delight as Canice Screene wins Irish Amateur Close

There were great celebrations in Carne Golf Club over the weekend after Canice Screene captured the Irish Women's Amateur Close Championship in Roscommon. Canice is a member of Carne and her Belmullet-born mother, Caroline (nee Gaughan) was a proud supporter as the talented 23-year-old took the title with hugely impressive displays over the week when she was tested to the limit by hugely talented opponents.

Screene, an Irish international golfer is a London native, and spent the past few years on the American college circuit where she represented Boston College and her stated ambition has always been to win the Irish Close Championship.

“It’s been a long time coming. This one is very, very special,” the new champion told The Mayo News. “This is my four or fifth year playing and I came her very determined to win. This has proven to me that I can win big tournaments and I have been waiting a long time to get over the finish line. I always said if I can win once I can win again. Hopefully I can just keep the momentum going now.”

Screene, who had her father Michael caddying for her in Roscommon, has been in great form since graduating from Boston College in May and impressed at the England U-25 Championship, the Walton Heath Trophy and the pre-qualifying for the British Open.

“Winning the Irish Amateur Close Championship will definitely change the projection of my golfing career,” stated the talented golfer who is both a member of Carne and Croham Hurst GC in Surrey.