Donegan suffers in South Africa as clubs go missing
Aine Donegan’s strong start to the LET season was abruptly halted when her clubs went missing in transit and she opened with an 81 to prop up the field in the Joburg Ladies Open.
The Lahinch rookie arrived in Johannesburg on a direct flight from Sydney, but her clubs didn’t make the Qantas flight, and she was forced to find replacement clubs at Randpark Golf Club.
They didn’t suit her and she made nine bogeys before pencilling in a closing birdie four to open with an eight-over 81 that left her dead last in the 120-strong field.
“The golf tournament has started, and I still have not received my clubs,” Donegan complained to Qantas Airlines via X after her round. “I arrived on Monday at 4.30 pm, and it is now Thursday.
“Can I please get a contact for the airline as it is impossible to get in touch with ye. I am very upset.”
Donegan, who lies 49th in the Order of Merit after making the cut in three of her first four LET events in Australia in February and March, needs a miracle now to make the cut.
But it was a better day for Elm Park’s Anna Foster, who made six birdies in a two-under 71 that left her tied for 38th as Olivia Mehaffey shared 74th after a 73.
Foster was still five shots behind American Brianna Navarrosa and French pair Agathe Laisne and Ariane Klotz, who shot seven-under 66s to lead by a shot from Scotland’s Laura Beveridge, Australia’s Justice Bosio and England’s Jess Baker.
“I hit all the greens today,” said Laisne, who won the Ford Women’s NSW Open in March. “The win has given me a lot of good confidence.
"I like chasing Casandra Alexander [in the Order of Merit], it’s a good position to be in.”
On the LPGA Tour, Ireland’s trio of hopefuls were outside the cut mark after the opening round of the JM Eagle LA Championship.
Stephanie Meadow was joint 76th after opening with a one-under 71, eight shots behind leader Chizzy Iwai while Leona Maguire and Lauren Walsh were 128th after 74s.
Meanwhile, the best golfers with a disability (G4D) from Europe and the United States will compete as part of the Ryder Cup’s 100th anniversary celebrations in Limerick next year.
The new G4D Ryder Cup presented by Ei Electronics will take place at Ballyneety Golf Club, the venue for the 2027 Junior Ryder Cup, from September 13-15.
Teams will comprise men and women, and details on the selection criteria and the team captains for Europe and the USA will be announced in due course.
