Bullock leads field of Limerick golfers at the Munster Women's Amateur Open Championship - FOGOLF

SADHBH Bullock will look to close out the summer in style and head back stateside with one of her major goals accomplished, as the Castletroy golfer tees up at her home club this Saturday morning for the Munster O18 Women’s Senior & Junior Amateur Open Championships.

Bullock has spent much of her 2025 season competing on the collegiate circuit in the United States, where she studies at the Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee and as the 19-year-old prepares to return for her sophomore year, this is an event she’s been eagerly anticipating.

“I’m heading out next week back to the States so it’s a nice one to finish off,” said Bullock.

“My home course, my home club, and the home support will definitely be an advantage if it all goes to plan in my head.”

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The 18-hole stroke play event gets underway at the Limerick venue on Saturday morning with 84 players set to compete across the Senior and Junior championships.

Among the field are Leinster and Connacht Women’s O18 Senior Champion Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe), Ulster O18 Senior Champion Clodagh Coughlan (Douglas) and AIG Irish Women’s Amateur Close semi-finalist Ellen O’Shaughnessy (Co Louth).

Bullock, meanwhile, is hoping local knowledge proves key over a Castletroy layout she knows better than most.

“Home advantage is such an important part on 16, 17, 18, even 14, really, the par 3 down the hill with the water,” said Bullock.

“There’s such an advantage knowing what to do, especially on 6, if you walk away with a par or birdie, you’re doing incredibly well compared to the rest of the field.”

Her first season of US college golf has sharpened her game and given her a better understanding of performing under pressure, something she knows will be crucial in an 18-hole shootout.

“Being able to perform under pressure and get the job done and make a run up the leaderboard in the final day is definitely something that’s helped, especially back here in Ireland,” said Bullock.

“I know that I can compete, and I’ve got that confidence so it’s quite nice.”

Bullock gets her championship underway in the penultimate group of Saturday afternoon tomorrow, teeing off at 1.30pm alongside Caitlin Shippam (Ballykisteen) and Kelly Brotherton (Killarney).

A victory at Castletroy would mark a major milestone in Bullock’s young career, a first championship won in front of a home crowd that would also provide a confidence boost before returning to the US to resume her collegiate career.

“It would definitely be my first big win,” said Bullock.

“It’d be nice to get a win and a pep in the step before going back stateside. The club would be incredibly proud as well. It’d be lovely to be the one lifting the trophy tomorrow evening.”

The Munster Over 18 Women’s Senior & Junior Amateur Open Championships begin at 9am on Saturday, with local member Mary Byrne and Judi Lyons (Limerick) getting proceedings underway.

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