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Stephanie Meadow, in her first professional tournament, finished third in the US Women's Open on Sunday - three shots behind tournament winner Michelle Wie - thanks to a final-round 69.
Ahead of the event Meadow, originally from Jordanstown, called upon advice from Rory McIlroy on how to play Pinehurst after he competed in the men's US Open on the course last week.
On Saturday Meadow forced her way into the penultimate group for Sundays final round on the notoriously difficult Pinehurst No 2 course. Tied third with Julie Inkster on two-over through 54 holes, Meadow teed it up with the seven-times Major Champion and Solheim Cup veteran for the final round.
Though Inkster faded out of contention, Meadow recovered from a couple of bogeys on her outward nine by landing a fabulous eagle three at 10. A phenomenally successful start to her new career, ensuring Meadow will hit the ground running in professional golf.
Meadow completed a glittering amateur career a fortnight ago by finishing as the joint top-scorer on the British and Irish team beaten in the Curtis Cup at St Louis Country Club.
A record-breaking nine-time winner during her four years on scholarship at the University of Alabama and a leading member of the Crimson Tide's National Championship-winning team two years ago, Meadow made it through to the US Women's Open as a first-alternative in a recent qualifier.
"I waited probably three weeks when we were at a training camp in Atlanta for the Curtis Cup and I got a phone call," she explained. "It was from New Jersey, and I'm thinking, 'Okay, this is the USGA'. And I'm thinking, please don't be about Curtis Cup, please be about US Open. To start my professional career here is so amazing. I'm so blessed that it happened.''
Meadow has been based in the States since age 14, when she joined the Hank Haney Junior Golf Academy in Sea Island, Georgia. She's accompanied at Pinehurst by her dad Robert and mother Louise.
After opening with a one-over-par 71 last Thursday, Meadow followed up with a 72 on Friday before Saturday's 69 propelled her to within four strokes of 54-hole leaders Michelle Wie and Korea's Amy Yang.
"I didn't really have expectations," said Meadow of her mission at the US Open. "I just wanted to go out and see where I was. I knew I was playing well.''
"I knew that my game could be up here against the best in the world and I've proven that, obviously."
Meanwhile Wie won her first major title with a two-stroke triumph over world number one Stacy Lewis in the US Women's Open at Pinehurst.
Joint overnight leader Wie, 24, carded a level-par 70 to see off the challenge of Lewis, who posted a 66.
South Korean Amy Yang, playing with Wie, fell away with a 74.
"I had a lot of fun," Wie said. "I walked up 18 with goose bumps and kind of had the same putt as Martin [Kaymer had to win the men's US Open last week]. I didn't hit as hard as him though.
"There were moments of doubt [during my career] but all the people around me never lost faith in me."
Wie burst on to the scene a decade ago by playing men's tournaments as a teenager. She failed to make a cut in her first seven tournaments but came back into form earlier this year with her first win in three seasons in April.
The Hawaiian's renewed confidence showed early in the final round at Pinehurst as Yang gave in to the pressure of playing in the lead group.
Wie holed out bravely for double bogey on 16 after he approach shot landed in a bush, ensuring she stayed a stroke ahead of Lewis.
However a superb birdie putt at the par-three 17th followed and, with her swagger back, Wie drilled her final drive down the last to set up a closing par and the victory.
Scotland's Catriona Matthew equalled Lewis' final-round best to finish tied-10th on five over par, though it was Meadow's stunning performance that most impressed of the British contingent.
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