Roscommon’s Olivia Costello has already had a fantastic start to her season and will be a leading contender once again as she looks to retain her Flogas Irish Girls’ Amateur Open Championship in Belvoir Park this weekend.
The 16-year-old Convent of Mercy student tees it up on the Belfast parkland course at 8.24am tomorrow (FRI), getting her first round underway alongside fellow Irish teammate Kate Dillon (Oughterard) and Marie Agnes Fischer (Munchener Golf Club).
Costello comes to the tournament in fine form following her individual and team success at the All-Ireland Schools Championship in Milltown and her third-place finish at the R&A U-16 Amateur in England.
The third-year student was a convincing winner last year claiming the title by six shots in Woodbrook, the only player in the girls’ field to card three under par rounds of 72, 69 and 72, and while she is hoping for back-to-back successes, she is keeping her feet firmly on the ground.
“I won’t think about last year at all, I’ll look at it the same as I looked at the Scottish girls, it’s just really another tournament,” said Costello.
“What happened last year was great and I really enjoyed the experience but I’ll just move on from it and play it as if it’s a completely different tournament.”
A strong international contingent will make the trip with representatives from countries such as England, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, and Spain looking to add their names to the trophy.
The Irish will also be well represented with Royal County Down Scratch Cup winner Anna Abom (Edmondstown) and Costello’s Convent of Mercy teammate Leah Lennon (Roscommon) among the top contenders in the 78 strong field, along with 2023 runner-up Marina Joyce-Moreno (Club de Golf Llavaneras).
Championships are not the only thing on Costello’s mind as she prepares for her exams and regardless of the tournament, there are no days off from her studies with the junior cert just around the corner.
Costello made the trip north earlier in the week to get a feel for the Belvoir Park course and while she feels her golf game has not changed since her victory last May, her mental approach to it has.
“My mindset and my thinking has changed a small bit, but golf wise I don’t think it’s too much different, the main difference is my mentality,” said Costello.
“It’s something that I’ve started looking into the last couple of years just any bit of improvement that I feel like I can get that’s going to make me better I’ll always try and look into it and understand it.”
The Flogas Irish Girls’ Amateur Open Championship tees off on Friday morning with Gemma McMeekin (Royal Portrush), Niamh O’Grady (Royal Dublin) and Erin Wells (Fulford) getting proceedings underway at 8.12am.
Follow the live scoring here