Screene saves the best for last with sensational 66 at Carton House

Irish Examiner

6 hours ago

Irish rookie Canice Screene was on course to double her season's earnings on the Ladies European Tour (LET) after closing with a best-of-the-week seven-under 66 in the KPMG Women's Irish Open.
Tied for 65th on five-over after the third round, Screene made an eagle and five birdies in a sensational bogey-free effort to move into the top 40 on two-under par at Carton House.
Born in London to Irish parents — her mother hails from Belmullet in Co Mayo while her father has Galway roots — 23-year-old Screene has conditional status on the LET this season.
But she's now got a chance to make a move up from 140th in the Order of Merit and improve her chances of winning full status by the end of this season, "It's my best round on tour," said a delighted Screene after she fist-pumped as she brushed in a tricky five-footer for a closing par. "Five under was my previous best, so I am excited.
"The 18th hole has given me some problems this week. So that was better than any of my birdies."
Screene won the AIG Irish Women's Close last year, and although she didn't secure her full card at the Qualifying School, she has now made six appearances on the Ladies European Tour and can fill in her schedule with appearances on the second-tier LET Access Series.
She enjoyed strong home support for her early tee time today, though her grandmother couldn't make it.
"My nan wasn't coming today, so she's like, 'What are you going to do?' And I was like, going to be under par," Screene said with a chuckle.
"I don't think she realised I was going to be quite so under."
After making birdies at the first and third, Screene chipped in for an eagle three at the fourth, then birdied the 10th and 13th before saving a good par at the 14th.
Another birdie at the par-five 15th put her seven under for the day, and she was delighted to par her way home and outshine the superstars in the field with the lowest round of the week.
"Obviously, everything was working nicely," she said. "I chipped in for eagle on a four, so that was always nice. Four under after four."
Getting starts on the main tour is her challenge for the rest of the season and she will likely move up the pecking order when there is a re-shuffle in the rankings after next month's PIF London Championship.
She doesn't qualify for the Evian Championship next week but hopes to make her major debut in the AIG Women's Open in Royal Porthcawl.
"I've pre qualifying for The Open in about a week, and then hopefully final qualifying after that.
"The re-shuffle will then give me a bit more clarity for the end of the season. But I have a lot of events I can add on the LET Access Series too."
She has no regrets about turning professional with a weak LET card and loves travelling with her father, Mike, as her caddie.
"I've loved it," she said. "I mean, this week is the most special thing ever because I have a massive family, and they're all here.
"If you heard people screaming, that was my very over-enthusiastic uncle. It's the best thing ever, and it makes teeing off at 7:24 in the morning less painful.
"Hopefully my round stands up as the best of the week. I played good golf this week, but I haven't necessarily got the best out of it until today.
"Apart from the par save at the last, I made another good on the 14th but hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens today, so delighted with that."