English prodigy dominates Women's Irish Open - but does not win any money
But as with Shane Lowry's 2009 triumph at the Irish Open, Woad did not pocket a single cent for her victory.
Instead the winner's cheque of €67,500 went to Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom, who finished in second place. This is because amateurs are not eligible to receive prize money in professional tournaments.
Nevertheless Woad, world number one in the amateur rankings, emphatically showed at Carton House why she is being tipped for big things in the game
She became the first amateur to win on the women's tour since 2022, when Jana Melichova won the Czech Ladies Open.
Despite Woad's success, she is not tempted to turn professional as she closes in on an LPGA Tour membership.
'No, I'm not tempted to turn pro yet,' she said on the Ladies European Tour website. 'I'm still trying to get my final two points for the LPGA. I'm trying to get those and then we will see what happens after that.
'It means a lot to get the win.
'Obviously, I had a big lead coming into today, but I still had to really focus as I was being chased by some really good players. I'm happy to get it done. It's perfect.
'I feel like I'm playing well, and I hope to continue that into Evian next week.'
Woad came into the final round with a seven-shot lead and fired five birdies and one bogey in a four-under-par 69.
Sagstrom finished second on 15 under, one shot ahead of Amelia Garvey from New Zealand, with Charley Hull fourth on 12 under.
Elm Park's Anna Foster finished the best of the Irish contingent, firing rounds of 71, 74, 67 and 72 to end up eight-under-par and in a tie for 12th place.
Cavan's Leona Maguire finished on level par for the tournament and in a tie for 48th place.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
39 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Ireland head coach Bemand defends capping two ex-England players on eve of World Cup
Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has explained the reasoning behind his decision to hand auditions to two former England players on the eve of a Women's Rugby World Cup that kicks off across the Irish Sea in a matter of weeks. Nancy McGillivray, who had been under contract to the English union and part of their development pathway until June, made her Test debut in green against Scotland in Cork last week and the centre marked the occasion with one of the team's five tries. Brought up in Hong Kong, and with a strong Irish background, McGillivray had never actually played for the Red Roses. Ellena Perry, who should make her Ireland debut against Canada in Belfast this Saturday, has played for England eleven times. The Gloucester-Hartpury front row was part of England's extended squad as recently as 2024 but hasn't been capped by her country of birth since 2020. World Rugby regulations deem that players are allowed to swap allegiances if they haven't been fielded for three years. Perry, who has been named on the bench for Ireland for the second of their two World Cup warm-ups, has been a late addition to the national panel and, with Christy Haney still injured, will get her chance at some point this weekend. Bemand was asked, after naming his matchday 23 on Thursday, whether the practice of parachuting players in that had been part of the England system, and so soon before such a major tournament, might risk putting noses out of joint. 'If done incorrectly,' he said, 'but with Christy picking up the hamstring niggle we needed to bring in and supplement front row. So actually, everything has been done well, in my opinion. In terms of the playing group, she's known to a good few of our group. 'So actually transitioning in, in terms of the block that we've gone through, it's been a pre-season block. So people coming in and getting touch points within pre-season blocks is actually a really healthy point to enter. And it gives people time to acclimatize. 'It gives people time to understand what the culture is of the group. It's not just an on-pitch piece. There's an off-piece culture where people like to be themselves, and add to our wave. She's been able to do that.' Bemand had rich praise for McGillivray and everything she has added to the group in such a short period to date, and he pointed out that Perry had been the starting loosehead for her club in both the PWR semi-final and final played back in the spring. Alongside her in that front row was Irish stalwart Neve Jones while Irish co-captain Sam Monaghan is another who shares a dressing-room with the new recruit at the English champions. The 28-year-old is not an unknown by any means. Bemand had worked with both Perry and McGillivray in the past, during his long stint as an assistant coach with the Red Roses, and those connections were clearly a huge help in bringing both players on board. 'She's hit the ground running,' he said of Perry. 'So she's more than earned her place in and around the area, in around the group. She's known to some of the players anyway, so in terms of the fit, there's been quite a seamless transition.'
Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Son Heung-min admits Los Angeles FC move was not his first choice
Son Heung-min admitted Los Angeles FC were not his first choice destination after he ended a 10-year stay at Tottenham but insisted they had 'changed his heart' on a record Major League Soccer transfer. The 33-year-old on Wednesday completed a move worth in excess of £20million – the highest transfer fee paid by an MLS club – after it was revealed on Saturday he would be leaving Spurs following 173 goals in 454 appearances and months after he captained the club to Europa League glory. At an introductory press conference in Los Angeles, the South Korea international admitted he had to be persuaded of the merits of moving to the United States before signing an initial two-year deal. New Beginnings ☀️ Welcome to Los Angeles, Sonny! — LAFC (@LAFC) August 6, 2025 'They've been absolutely working so hard to get me here to join LAFC,' Son said. 'If I'm honest it was not my first choice but John (Thorrington, LAFC general manager) was the first call when the season finished and John changed my mind, he changed my heart. 'I'm so happy to see all the Korean fans, I was at the game and I saw you supporting like crazy and I wanted to run on the pitch and show my performance. I'm here to win and I will perform. 'I will definitely show you something exciting in… are we calling it football or soccer? I will definitely show you some exciting football and we will have success.' Son added that the decision to leave Spurs had left him feeling 'very empty'. 'I felt like I gave it all, but I felt like I needed a new chapter and new challenge and I chose LAFC. I'm old but I still have good physicality, good legs and I still have good quality.' Earlier Son had issued an heartfelt message to Tottenham fans on making the 'hardest decision ever' to leave north London. 'How to find the right words for this? I don't know. I have been thinking for days. It's impossible. But here I go,' Son wrote. 'It's time for me to say goodbye to Tottenham Hotspur. My home for the past decade. When I arrived in 2015, I didn't speak English, I didn't know London, but you welcomed me with open arms, believed in me, and stood by me through every high and low. 'I was just a boy from Korea with big dreams who was supposed to have no chance. And now, 10 years later, North London is in my heart forever. Dear Spurs fans... Sonny's letter to you 🤍 — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 6, 2025 'I've made friends for life here, had the honour of becoming a godfather here, and had the privilege of captaining our special club here. I've poured my heart and soul into this club, which makes this the hardest decision ever. 'I thought if I was ever going to leave, it would have to be on my terms, on the best terms, when our mission had been accomplished together. With pride and honour.' Son joined Spurs in 2015 from Bayer Leverkusen. Alongside old partner in crime Harry Kane, Son holds the record for the most goal involvements by a duo in the Premier League, with the pair assisting each other on a record 47 occasions in the competition. Son's performance helped turn Tottenham into title contenders when they finished second in the Premier League under Mauricio Pochettino in 2017, finishing as runners-up in the Champions League two years later. After Kane left for Bayern Munich, Son became Spurs captain under Ange Postecoglou, lifting the Europa League trophy in May – having come off the bench in the final against Manchester United, a 1-0 Spurs win, after an injury-affected campaign. The popular South Korean will renew acquaintances with Hugo Lloris and move to Los Angeles, which boasts one of the largest Korean populations in the world, ahead of next summer's World Cup in the United States.
Irish Independent
10 hours ago
- Irish Independent
New Ross boat club member rows for Ireland in international regatta
Brennan, at only 19 years of age, was one of the first Irish boats on the water when she competed in the Women's U23 Single Scull (1x) and delivered a standout performance. In a thrilling race, Anna placed second, behind the English sculler. She maintained strong pace and clear water over the Welsh and Scottish competitors, closing the gap on the leader all the way to the finish line. Later in the regatta, Brennan took to the water once again, this time in the senior women's quad sculls. She joined forces with Amy Barrett, a former New Ross Boat Club rower, now training with the University of Limerick Rowing Club along with two other scullers Kilgallen of Neptune Rowing Club and Walsh of Sligo Rowing Club. Barrett was in the bow seat, with Brennan setting the rate from the stroke seat. The Irish crew competing in a high-calibre field, secured a commendable third-place finish. Nearing the end of the regatta, the same crew returned to the water for their final race in the women's senior 4x- 500m sprint, where they delivered an even stronger performance to take second place, finishing just behind England in an exciting sprint to the line. New Ross Boat Club also extends 'warm congratulations to Amy Barrett, whose continued success after joining University of Limerick, where she continues to row to a very high level, remains a powerful inspiration for the next generation of New Ross Boat Club rowers,' commented Dave Roche of New Ross Boat Club.
