Danielle McVeigh returns to Q School once again this week - but on this side of the Atlantic Ocean - after a gruelling four rounds in a chilly Florida at the LPGA Final Qualifying School last week.
After a disappointing few days on the LPGA International Champions and Legends Courses the Kilkeel native missed the cut following rounds of 77, 81, 78 and 79 to finish in 117th place overall – closing a campaign that had started in September.
After finishing in a share of 22nd place at Plantation Golf & Country Club, in Venice, Florida in September - one of the two 72-hole sectional qualifying events - McVeigh was inside the top 30 players and ties that advanced to the final stage in Daytona Beach – but without further fortune.
But having passed the LET Pre-qualifying event in November McVeigh secured a place at the final stage of the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School after finishing 29th at La Manga – after which she made her way to Florida – the chase for professional playing rights comes down to this weekend.
It has been a busy year as Danielle played in the LPGA Qualifier before travelling to the World Amateur Team Championships for Espirito Santo Trophy in Argentina where Ireland finished joint 11th with strongest team Ireland has fielded to date as all three players - McVeigh, Lisa and Leona Maguire – had represented Great Britain & Ireland at the Curtis Cup earlier this year outside Boston.
Danielle’s 3-and-2 singles victory over Jennifer Song, the reigning U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links champion, gave the tall Kilkeel native 2½ of the 7½ points that Great Britain and Ireland secured - against a heavily favoured and more seasoned USA team – establishing her as a towering presence in the game in every sense.
It was McVeigh, who at 22 years of age, accomplished the task for which she was charged – to get the GB&I team out in front early to build any momentum possible and stop the USA onslaught from the previous day. It was a job she did well under pressured circumstances – both personally and professionally.
A scholarship student at Texas A&M University for two years McVeigh switched to NUI Maynooth where she now is a member of the Paddy Harrington Golf Scholarship programme and a second year student at the School of Business.
In 2010 Danielle succeeded Leona Maguire as Helen Holm Scottish Amateur Open Stroke play Champion, her second big win on a Scottish links within a year, following the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Stroke Play title at Royal Aberdeen last autumn. McVeigh also won the Welsh Open Amateur Stroke Play title in 2009.
Having earned a place as a result at the Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in July, McVeigh missed the cut following a second round 79 where she uncharacteristically dropped seven shots. But rather than a setback Danielle has built on from it and pursued her card on both sides of the ocean – simultaneously.
The more remarkable thing about Danielle McVeigh is that all this success has been achieved against the backdrop of huge personal loss following the passing of her Father in May this year – who was a huge influence on her life - and helped her learn the game at Royal County Down where he was a very good amateur. It was a measure of McVeigh’s mettle that she sat her exams barely a week after the funeral.
This week she will join the seasoned Team Ireland professional, Martina Gillen, in the chase for a tour card for next season.
Significant Golf Achievements
British Open Stroke play Champion 2009
Welsh Open Stroke play Champion 2009
4th St. Rule Trophy 2009
T4th Scottish Open Stroke play 2009
Munster Ladies Champion 2009
World Student Games Champion 2007
Member of Silver Medal Winning Irish Team at World Student Games, Thailand 2007
Qualified for the RICOH Ladies British Open 2007
Winner of the Donnis Thompson Invitational (USA) 2007
Irish Girls Close Champion 2005
Ulster Girls Champion 2004 & 2005
Leinster Girls Champion 2004
Representative Honours
GB & I Vagliano Team: 2009
Irish Ladies European Team: 2007, 2008, 2009
Irish Ladies Home International Team: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Irish U21 European Team: 2006
Irish Girls European Team: 2005
Irish Girls Home International Team: 2003, 2004, 2005
Ulster Ladies Team: 2004, 2006, 2008
Ulster Girls Team: 2003, 2004, 2005
Fact File
Date of Birth: September 14th 1987
Attachment: Amateur
Handicap: +2
Turned Professional
Golf Club: Royal Co. Down Ladies
Coach: David Kearney
