Leona Maguire to lead Irish challenge at KPMG Women's Irish Open at Dromoland Castle

Leona Maguire heads a cast of ten local hopefuls heading into this week's KPMG Women's Irish Open at Dromoland Castle.

The Cavan native is the only one of the Irish contingent in the field to qualify for the Ladies European Tour event, which is returning to the Clare track for the second consecutive year, as the other nine have entered thanks to a tournament invitation.

Beth Coulter, Emma Fleming, Sara Byrne, Kate Lanigan, Olivia Costello, Aideen Walsh, and Aine Donegan are the seven Irish amateurs in the field, while Olivia Mehaffey and Victoria Craig make up the home-based challenge.

Clare native Donegan made the headlines earlier this summer as she impressed at the Women's US Open at Pebble Beach, enjoying a share of third place following a first round 69.

The LSU student would finish her maiden professional tour event in a tie for 45th place, but missed out on the $35,208 prize money due to her amateur status.

Mehaffey has been competing on the Ladies European Tour since turning professional and has shown some glimpses of her fine amateur form, including a third place finish in the Ladies Open by Pickala in June, as well as shooting an impressive 64 in the opening round of the Amundi German Masters, where she led after the first round, eventually finishing tied 12th.

All eyes will be on Maguire, however, as the world number 17 takes a break from the prestigious LPGA Tour in America, to play her national open, ahead of a trip to Spain later in September to represent Europe in the Solheim Cup.

Maguire was the star of that particular event when Europe reigned victorious against the USA in 2021 at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, However, her full focus will be on the parkland Dromoland track as she looks to land the title