A third appearance in the KPMG Women’s Irish Open for Aideen Walsh has proven to be a happy coincidence as it means she can delay her return to primary teaching for one more week.
But this is by no means a summer holiday extension for the Lahinch amateur who is determined to make the cut for the first time at Carton House Fairmont having bowed out at the halfway stage of the previous two editions in Dromoland Castle.
Walsh is a substitute primary school teacher by choice so she can balance her work and golf rather than obtain a full-time position so she is used to dipping in and out of the classroom.
The 26-year-old will work full five day weeks during the winter months but when the season kicks off every spring she trims her workload down to 3-4 days in order to facilitate her busy life as an elite amateur golfer.
Walsh is the textbook part-time amateur golfer and carries inspiration from Maria Dunne who played on the Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup side as a part time amateur in 2016 aged 32 and Walsh is striving to emulate her.
“Maria is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Her golf career for someone like me is something to admire. She played Curtis Cup aged 32 and if you look at the Curtis Cup team this year the oldest person might be 24 so it’s not something that’s done very often,” said Walsh who won the Irish Women’s Mid-Amateur title for the second successive year last week.
“Definitely a confidence booster after a win coming into a week like this. Going back to back makes it even better but I am very focused on this week now and looking forward to my third appearance.”
Walsh came agonisingly close to making the cut in Dromoland Castle on her first KPMG Women’s Irish Open appearance in 2022 and while last year was another disappointing early exit she has fond memories of being roared on by local support and is very excited to get going at the O’Meara course despite her lack of knowledge on the layout.
“I was in Lauren’s (Walsh) shoes in the last two years because Dromoland is in Clare where I’m from! My close family will definitely come up and watch I have fond memories of having family and people who would have helped me in junior golf coming up in Dromoland.
“It’s very special, the event is run so brilliantly from start to finish we are treated like royalty and it’s really enjoyable. As an Irish amateur it is a huge honour to be able to test myself against the professionals.”