Douglas golfer Byrne turns on the style in Florida
![Douglas golfer Byrne turns on the style in Florida Douglas golfer Byrne turns on the style in Florida](/cms_media/module_img/7652/3826138_2_articlesmall_2613324_1_.jpg)
TRAILBLAZER: Sara Byrne has continued her fine form. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
Douglas’ Sara Byrne completed a dominant victory in the Hurricane Invitational golf tournament in Florida.
Just days after returning from the World Amateur Team Championship in Abu Dhabi, Byrne took home the individual title, shooting a programme-record 197 (-19) over the course of 54 holes.
She surpassed LPGA golfer Dewi Weber (201; 2016) to claim top honours.
Byrne won by nine shots over Melanie Green of South Florida.
The Douglas golfer played the best 18 holes in the university’s history on Monday afternoon, breaking the 18-hole programme record with a 63 in the second round at Biltmore Golf Course.
Byrne, a fourth-year junior, totaled eight birdies in the second round and capped her record-breaking 18 holes with an eagle on hole 18.
In the team competition, Miami won with a 27 under-par total, 10 shots ahead of Oklahoma.
Miami totaled a field-best 66 birdies, 18 of which came from fourth-year junior Byrne.
The is the second individual win for Byrne of the season as she won a share of the individual title at the Pat Bradley Invitational earlier this month.
The win enhances a very successful year for Byrne, after winning the Irish Close and taking low amateur honours at the KPMG Irish Women’s Open.
She shared the lead after the first round of last week’s Espírito Santo Trophy.
“The whole year has been very good for me,” said Byrne earlier this month.
“It’s a really good feeling winning, so having the Close and getting my first collegiate win, which was a massive goal for me coming into college golf, getting that under my belt is a really good feeling and getting low-amateur at the Irish Open, all the goals that I have I am ticking off.
“It’s a great confidence boost and great momentum. It’s a bit like I’m in cruise control.”
The Hurricanes will take the next few months off from competition and return for the spring season on February 4 at the UCF Challenge.