Scottish golfer Lorna McClymont said patience was the key to her success as she went back-to-back in the Flogas Irish Women’s Amateur Open Championship today.
FORMAT: 54-hole stroke play
It was another ideal day for scoring in Woodbrook and when the pressure came on from Ireland’s Beth Coulter, McClymont came up with all the answers at the vital time to register a stunning 16-under-par total for three rounds.
McClymont, who this year has already won the Welsh Open Stroke Play, R&A Student Series and BUCS Order of Merit, had posted a 68 on Friday and 67 yesterday, setting the course record on consecutive days while a closing 71 was enough for a three-shot win over Coulter. In 2022 she won by four shots at Baltray.
It’s now five wins in six appearances this year for the 22-year-old Milngavie star who may well turn professional in the future but only after she finishes her studies at University of Stirling.
McClymont said: “I have been working on every part of my game, just putting and having confidence in hitting certain shots. But also having the mindset that anything can happen. Being patient and enjoying it was the main thing for me really.
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“I tell myself it’s not over until it’s over. Anything can happen within the space of a hole. It’s always staying patient, when things weren’t going my way it was just like, it’s fine there are chances on the back nine I can take.
“I wasn’t going to be greedy and try and get things. It was just taking it as it came really.”
The Scottish international, who will make her third Arnold Palmer Cup appearance next month, once again displayed her ability to put together extraordinary bursts of low scoring. Last year she shot a 13-under 60 at Montrose.
In the first round she birdied six of the seven opening holes and finished with nine birdies overall as she opened up with a six-under-par 68, a score matched by 2022 Curtis Cup squad member Beth Coulter.
A day later she went three shots clear thanks to a brilliant finish which saw her birdie 12, 15, 16 and 17 and eagle 14.
Today it was more sedate but with nine holes to go her lead was down to one as Coulter eagled the fifth.
But that was as close as she got at the champion birdied ten and then her playing partner bogeyed the 11th and an eagle on 16 from the leader sealed the deal.
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In the Girls event Olivia Costello held on for title. The 15-year-old opened with a 72 and yesterday managed a 69 while her closing 72 meant she finished six shots clear of Elm Park’s Emma Fleming.
The Roscommon player said: “I played okay, I probably didn’t play as well as what I have the last couple of days. I did scramble around the course. I didn’t really play the best but I am happy enough with the way I played.
“I am happy. There is definitely a lot to learn from it that I can bring into the rest of the season.”