<p>Aine Donegan hits from the third tee during the third round of the Ford Women's New South Wales Open at Wollongong Golf Club. Credit: Tristan Jones/ LET</p>
Aine Donegan finished joint 16th in her professional debut in the weather-delayed Ford Women’s NSW Open in Australia.
The Co Clare woman (23) stormed into a two-shot lead at halfway after carding an eight-under 63 in the second round.
While a three-over 74 and some mediocre putting (she lost 4.58 shots to the field on the greens) in round three dented her title hopes, she closed with a 70 to finish seven shots behind France’s Agathe Laisne on nine-under.
A cheque for $6,256 put Donegan 22nd in the LET Order of Merit with Lauren Walsh, who makes her LPGA debut in China this week, ranked 31st after her T25 in the PIF Saudi Ladies International last month.
Anna Foster is 37th in the Order of Merit after she closed with a level par 71 to finish T37 in New South Wales on Sunday.
Laisne claimed her maiden title on the LET when she followed a 64 on Saturday with a 65 to secure a one-shot victory over Thailand’s April Angurasaranee and Korean amateur Soomin Oh on 16-under par.
Next up for Foster and Donegan is a trip to Sydney’s Magenta Shores for the Australian Women’s Classic from March 5
Meanwhile, Leona Maguire closed with a three-over 75 to finish tied 41st, 14 strokes behind Australia’s Hannah Green in the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore.
Major champion Green captured the title for the second time and recorded her seventh LPGA Tour victory after a final-round 69 secured a one-shot win over American Auston Kim.
Having previously won in 2024, Green becomes the third two-time champion of the event, joining Inbee Park and Jin Young Ko. The victory was made even more special as it marked her first win with her husband on the bag.
“I think I'm far more emotional just because I was able to do it with my husband,” Green said. “I felt like, I played good in areas last year, but it wasn't very consistent at all, and I guess it has been a long time since I have had a trophy in my hand.
“When I did win Singapore two years ago, I went on to win two other tournaments that season and pretty much had my best season on tour.
“So having a win so early in the season gives me a bit more flexibility with the tournaments that I can play. So I'm hoping that this puts me in good stead for the rest of the year.”
Kildare star Walsh (25) will make her first start as an LPGA member in the Blue Bay LPGA on Hainan Island this week, having won her card at the Qualifying School last year.
She played in the AIG Women’s Open in 2021 as an amateur (T42) and missed the cut in the Dana Open in 2023.
She played the LPGA Tour, including the AIG Women’s Open and ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open in 2024 and 2025, but missed all four cuts.
Article Link: Aine Donegan 16th in Australia as Leona Maguire fades to 41st in Singapore - News - Irish Golf Desk