Northumberland’s Jess Baker once again today defied the odds to reach the final of the Women’s British Amateur at Hunstanton.
FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play / 6 rounds of matchplay
The 19-year-old from Gosforth Park Ladies went into this week’s R&A showpiece ranked 518th but has raised her game impressively and her putter was red hot as she beat two-time Curtis Cup player Hannah Darling to make it through (2&1).
Tomorrow she will tackle Darling’s South Carolina college team-mate Louise Rydqvist (Sweden) for the biggest prize in European Amateur golf and was somewhat shocked after seeing off the Scottish star. So much so that one of Baker’s first tasks was to find somewhere to stay tonight.
She said: “It’s Incredible. I absolutely never expected this one bit so it’s just an amazing feeling. I have to find somewhere to go but I’m sure we’ll figure it out.”
The English player, who has had dad Steve carrying her bag all tournament, was five under par for 17 holes against Darling and a magnificent eagle at the 11th took her three up.
She added: “I had a lovely four-iron in and it was nice to knock that one in. It was nice to have that momentum boost.”
Darling won the next and it looked like the Broomieknowe player was about to pounce as she took the 15th when Baker’s attempt at a floated pitch shot went badly wrong.
However the underdog hit back straight away, holing from distance at the par three 16th to get back to two up. Darling kept giving herself chances but the putts would not drop. That was typified at 17 where Baker looked set to lose the hole but rammed it in from 16 feet for par while her opponent’s good-looking birdie effort slipped agonisingly wide.
In the morning Baker beat Italian No 2 seed Emilie Paltrinieri, getting off to a fast start. The Newcastle-based player was four up at the turn, birdieing the first two holes and finishing it off in great style with a birdie at 16.
Her opponent tomorrow has done it the hard way, the 20-year-old going to extra holes in her morning quarter-final with Kelsey Bennett (Australia). She then trailed Spanish teenager Carla Bernat from the third until the 17th but won the last three holes to nick a final spot at the last.
Tomorrow’s winner will gain exemptions into the following events:
• 2022 AIG Women’s Open – Muirfield (August 4-7)
• 2022 Evian Championship – Evian Resort (July 21-24)
• 2023 US Women’s Open – Pebble Beach (July 5-9)
• 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur (March 29 – April 1)