Danielle McVeigh secured a place at the final stage of the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School in mid December after finish in 29th place at La Manga last week. Without much time to reflect McVeigh made her way to Florida, United States, where she will takes her place at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament at the International Champions and Legends Course in Daytona Beach, Florida from December 8th - 12th.
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 next month.
The LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament is a 90-hole, five-day event, that takes place on both the Legends and Champions courses at LPGA International with the first 72 holes played over both courses and the Champion course only used for the final round. The cut is held after 54 holes in order to reduce the final field to 70 players and ties.
McVeigh is in the mix with a number of Ladies European Tour players also seeking their right for the US Tour – Christel Boeljon; Lee-Anne Pace and Becky Brewerton
Danielle had played in the Sectional Qualifier before travelling to the World Amateur Team Championships for Espirito Santo Trophy where Ireland finished joint 11th with Denmark as part of the strongest team Ireland has fielded to date at the event as all three players - Danielle 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 day prior. It was a job she did more than admirably under pressured circumstances – personally and professionally.
A scholarship student at Texas A&M University for two years McVeigh then 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 form it and the LPGA event offers another chance to a make a major breakthrough into the professional ranks.
The more remarkable thing though 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 second-year exams in business studies barely a week after the funeral.
Given all those real life challenges, earning a top spot at the LPGA Final Qualifying Stage in Daytona in December is well within McVeigh’s’ reach. It would be richly deserved.
Fact File
Date of Birth: September 14th 1987
Attachment:
Amateur
Handicap: +2
Golf Club: Royal Co. Down Ladies
Coach: David Kearney
Golf Achievements
Qulfied for Ricoh British Womens Open 2010
Open Stroke play Champion 2009
Welsh Open Stroke play Champion 2009
4th St. Rule Trophy 2009
T4th Scottish Open Stokeplay 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
Curtis Cup, GB&I 2010
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
