FORMAT: 54-hole stroke play
A birdie-birdie-birdie finish secured a first national title for Scotland’s Lorna McClymont as the Milngavie player won the Irish Women’s Open by four shots yesterday.
The 21-year-old overcame the shock of a double bogey at the first to shoot a closing 70 (-4) and finish well clear of home favourite Katie Poots, who took the girls title at County Louth Golf Club.
The Scotland international won the R&A Student Series Order of Merit last month and has come close a number of times to major victories in England and Scotland.
However, after starting the third round one ahead and then dropping back into a share of the lead with the opening six, she believes her off-key start helped her relax.
“In a funny sort of way it took the pressure off me,” said McClymont. “I just reset, stayed patient and got the shots back.”
She did that and more, accumulating six birdies, half of which came in the final three holes although it was a par on 13 that proved the catalyst for her brilliant finish.
Having hit her second through the back from a tough lie, she chipped to ten feet and made the par putt.
“That was when my putter woke up,” added McClymont. “I had been putting myself into positions and it was finally nice to hole a few when it really mattered.”
With nine to go, she was level with Irish junior Poots, who eagled the ninth to get to five under for the tournament.
McClymont went back ahead with a birdie at 11, firing a good 65-yard pitch to seven feet and getting her four on the long par five.
Poots would par every hole on the inward nine so there was still only one in it playing the 16th where the Scottish golfer doubled her advantage, sinking a 12-footer.
At the par three 17th, McClymont rattled one in from 15 feet and closed things out in style as she laid up to 90 yards and then wedged it to nine feet, which set up her 17th birdie of the competition.
The previous day she had stormed into the lead thanks to a stunning front nine, which included six birdies while Poots eagled the third and ninth to record the joint lowest round of the event (69) and get herself back into contention.