By Daragh Small
Elm Park golfer Emma Fleming says the experience of representing Ireland at Home Internationals capped off a brilliant season as she was crowned Bridgestone Order of Merit champion.
The 18-year-old dominated the Scratch Cup scene earlier this year and that combined with her victory in the Connacht Girls’ Open Championship and third place finish in Ulster, ensured she can look back fondly on 2023.
Fleming played in the KPMG Women’s Irish Open this summer, while she also finished seventh in the Flogas Irish Women’s Open at Woodbrook but she knows the added experience of representing Ireland at senior level helped her raise her game.
“The highlight was playing Home Internationals with the women,” said Fleming.
“I didn’t know that leading the Bridgestone Order of Merit gets you onto the Homes team. I was happy I went with the women just because of the experience and standard is so much different. It’s a bit more intense, the women’s is a great team environment.
“You learn a lot from them and especially being at the end of the season, it shows me what I need to fix and work on over the winter.”
Kate Lanigan (Hermitage) finished second in the overall standings while Anna Abom (Edmondstown) was back in third. Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle) and recent Irish Mid-Am champion, Aideen Walsh (Lahinch), round out the top five.
But it is Fleming who joins David Shiel (Enniscrone) as the two Bridgestone Order of Merit champions from the 2023 campaign.
And the UCD student, who has just begun her studies in Economics and Finance, is excited about her game heading into next year.
“I wasn’t in college last year so I’m hoping to practise as much as possible,” said Fleming.
“But this year planning to play a little bit earlier in the Spanish Amateur and Portuguese Amateur. I didn’t play those last year which probably wasn’t good for my WAGR, I booked in too late.
“I will book in on time this year and play those and I am looking forward to the Scratch Cups again.”
