Coffey aims for British amateur title after a remarkable week

Alison Coffey will recall with great affection the 16th green at Co Louth when she cares to dwell on the triumph in the Irish Women's Close Championships, sponsored by Lancome.

In Saturday morning's semi-final, she trailed Dundalk's Yvonne Cassidy by one hole after 15, but a birdie at the 16th allowed her to draw level before eventually triumphing at the 20th, where the unfortunate Cassidy probably played her worst shot of the round.

In the afternoon, Coffey again reached the 16th tee at a crucial juncture, this time in the final against soon-to-be Curtis Cup player Suzie O'Brien. Coffey was three up after 13 holes, but lost 14 and 15, and she admitted that she took a small time out to regather her senses prior to stepping on the 16th tee.

"I took a moment to myself, basically telling myself that it was better to be one up after 16 holes than one down. I was trying to put what had happened on the two previous holes out of my mind."

That she managed superbly is manifest in the birdie she achieved for the second time that day at the hole. It allowed her to close out the match on the next green for a two and one victory, enabling her to add the Close Championship to the Leitrim Cup she won as the leading qualifier. It comes just a week after she won the Ulster Championship, and was some revenge for a Close semi-final defeat by O'Brien in 1997.

"I am absolutely delighted," she said. "I suppose it's down to the hard work that I did in the gym during the winter. When I got onto the Britain and Ireland squad they gave me a fitness programme and I have been doing weights and working hard on my fitness programme. It really paid dividends this week."

Coffey, first reserve for the Curtis Cup team that takes on the US at Ganton next month, conceded that while she hadn't quite given up hope of playing ("you never know what might happen between now and then") she preferred to concentrate on the British Amateur Championships at Walton Heath.

"The best golfers on this side of the water will be there and maybe a few of the Americans."

O'Brien proved a gracious loser, admitting: "Alison played very well all week and in the final. I'm trying to reach my peak for June and after this week I know what I have to practice. I was very pleased with my matchplay. Even though I wasn't playing well I stuck in there and put her under pressure."

O'Brien travels to Ganton at the end of the month for a Curtis Cup squad weekend.