Golf Vacations in Ireland
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Congratulations to Clare Coughlan
Cork Golf Club, Little Island, Cork

27th November 2006: Clare Coughlan, a member of Cork Golf Club, became Ireland's newest lady professional yesterday when she survived the 8 round qualification school at La Cala Golf & Country Club in Spain yesterday.

Indeed the Little Island amateur finished top of the pile, with a final round 69 that tied her for 1st place with England's professional Samatha Head. Coughlan has now secured full playing rights on the Ladies European Tour for 2007.

"It just feels tremendous,” said Coughlan, from Little Island in Cork. “I’ve had my fiancé David on the bag and we’ve enjoyed ourselves this week. We didn’t have too many expectations. It’s a new experience so we just thought we’ll see what happens.” 

26-year old Coughlan has twice been a member of the B&I Curtis Cup team (2204,2006) and had the distiction of beating Michelle Wie twice in the 2004 contest at Formby. She also played in the 2005 Vagliano Trophy and was the runner-up in the 2005 Ladies' British Championship, and has won the 1999 Irish Ladies' Championship and the 2003 Irish Stroke Play Championship.

Congratulations also go to Martina Gillen of Beaverstown Golf Club in north Dublin who also shot 69 on the final day to secure the last of the available 28 cards. Both ladies are graduates of the ILGU Elite Training Programme.