The Maguire golfing dynasty is continuing to blossom, with Leona taking the amateur golfing world by storm in America alongside her twin sister, and younger brother Odhran competing in the Faldo Challenge series at Lough Erne Golf Club this week.

The twin girls, former members of Castle Hume Golf Club, burst on the scene while they were still in Primary school, and their rise towards the top of the world rankings has been rapid, with Leona looking set to be crowned as number in the world amateur golfing rankings in the coming months.

Leona and Lisa Maguire, now 20 years old, are currently on a golfing scholarship with Duke University in North Carolina.

While Lisa’s development has been restricted by a wrist injury, Leona is having an incredible year and has moved up 29 places to an all-time high of No 2 for an Irish player following her second playoff win of the season in the ACC Championship in Greensboro last weekend.

“Leona is playing very well,” acknowledged her mother Breda. “She is at number two after her win last week and she is just playing away in her own quiet confident way. She is hitting the ball very well and putting very well. She is happy with her game and she isn’t looking to make any changes to it at the minute. When she went out there after being in school for two years it was about getting back playing and training every day, and college golf has helped her do that.” Lisa is still coming to terms with a swing change necessitated by an injury she suffered while taking part in the trials for the Curtis Cup, but Breda is confident she is coming back to her best. “She is very confident that she will be back,” she revealed. “She knows it’s not going to happen overnight but she is doing well. Golf in America is very competitive. There are eight on the Duke golf team and only five ever travel to tournaments. You have to play three rounds of qualifying before every tournament and Lisa has qualified every time, so she is happy it is coming together for her and she is working very hard on it.” The move to America would be a daunting experience for any young teenager, but Breda reckons the twins have adapted well to their new life. “They both get along really well together, and that has made the transition in going to America so much easier,” she said. “They have travelled a lot the two of them and they love the fact you can be in college and play at the same time. They were very fortunate to be accepted into Duke and be offered the scholarship. It is very good academically and they play at the highest level of college golf in America against the top colleges. The golf course is only five minutes away from the campus and it is owned by the university. The facilities are fantastic as is the support system. It’s good here in Ireland but there is not that level of college golf here. They are doing exams this week and by the end of this week the academic end of college will be finished and then the US National preliminary rounds start and they will go on until the end of May representing the college, so they won’t be home until that is over.” And Breda admits that the pair would one day love to join the professional ranks. “Turning professional would be the dream, and it always has been,” she said. “They will be 21 in October and they will know when the time is right to decide what they want. They are still enjoying playing as much as they ever did.” Closer to home, the girl’s 13 year old brother Odhran is hoping to following in their footsteps. Despite only having reached his teenage years he is already playing off a handicap of 5, and this week is playing in the Faldo Series at Lough Erne in the U16 competition. He has already tasted success, winning the U14 Leinster Boys last year, as well as finishing second in both the Ulster Boys last year and the Connaught Boys Open at Easter.

“He is playing nicely at the moment,” said Breda. “He is at the stage where he is beginning to grow and getting a bit of distance in his drives, and this is a great opportunity for him to be able to play Lough Erne. He is very optimistic but the Faldo series is very competitive and they come from all over to play in it. He hasn’t a care in the world. He goes out and just plays!”