Lahinch amateur Áine Donegan brought all her links nous to bear at the famed Pebble Beach in Monterey, California on Thursday to sit just one off the lead after the first round of the US Women’s Open.
The 21-year-old Louisiana State University student made light of the fact that her clubs arrived late, and that when she unpacked them the head of her driver had snapped off, with a stunning round of three-under 69.
That left her one behind China’s Xiyu Janet Lin and South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim.
Among the later starters at Pebble Beach, it was an equally good day for Cavan’s Leona Maguire who made five birdies and two bogeys on her way to carding a round of 69 to sit alongside Donegan at three-under and in a share of third place.
Donegan, playing in her first to …