Posted online: Sep 27th, 2011

A talented young Inishowen golfing enthusiast rubbed shoulders with two of the greatest and most successful names in the sport recently.
Ten-year-old Jodie Harkin from Ardaravan Heights in Buncrana was delighted to meet Annika Sörenstam and Alison Nicholas prior to last week’s prestigious Solheim Cup.
Annika Sörenstam is one of the most successful golfers in history and was the EU assistant captain at the event.
Alison Nicholas was this year’s captain and is a former winner of both the British Women’s Open and the US Women’s Open.
Young Jodie, who plays off a handicap of 36 at North West Golf Club at Lisfannon, was invited to meet the duo at Dunboyne Castle in Meath by the Irish Ladies Golf Union, an experience she described as “very exciting.”
Jodie, the daughter of Joanne and Jimmy Harkin, is a huge fan of golf and took it up at just seven-years-old, beginning at the nine-hole course at Buncrana Golf Club.
Her interest was piqued through both her parents’ involvement in the sport and she is a frequent sight on the course, where she is usually joined by her grandfather, John Larry.
The Scoil Iosagain (Buncrana) pupil explained when she first started out, she found it “difficult to swing with the club,” but got the hang of it and is now on her third set.
She also revealed how she played “every night” during the summer months and last year, trained in the winter programme at Greenmount Golf Academy in Antrim. She also receives lessons from Derek Morrison, the pro golfer at Foyle Golf Club.
When asked who her favourite golfer was, Jodie revealed while she was inspired by Sörenstam and Nicholas, she was a big fan of Irish man Pádraig Harrington. She was lucky enough to meet her idol last year in Adair Manor, Limerick.
Jodie has vowed to continue practicing and everyone in Inishowen is advised to look out for her in the future!