Liphook Scratch Cup delight for junior England international from Foxhills
FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play
After a tough year Matilde Santilli rediscovered her early-season form to triumph in the Liphook Scratch Cup open.
The 15-year-old started the year strongly, finishing second in the Midland Girls U-16s behind England international Amelia Wan and her spring-time efforts gained her selection for the international match against Spain U-16s in May. She was also the leading amateur at the prestigious Roehampton Gold Cup in April.
However an emphasis on technique derailed her performances somewhat in June and July although the green shoots of recovery were evident as she finished eighth at the England U-16s at Formby Ladies.
However in Hampshire on Saturday she took another step up by heading off a strong field to finish two shots clear of Castle Royle’s Isabella Kent and Surrey champion Rebecca Gee (Hindhead).
“It was really good,” said the Foxhills player. “I felt like I was playing like I was at the start of the season. It was a lot more relaxed and I was not thinking about my swing. I was just playing.”
A second-round 72 did the job on a day when a host of players put themselves into a strong position after the morning round.
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Epsom’s Kimberley Munro led at halfway (73) but the top eight were separated by just three shots with Santilli one behind.
However the Foxhills junior quickly took the lead in the afternoon and surged clear thanks to three birdies in a row, starting at the sixth, where she hit a superb seven iron to three feet. That came after she also hit an excellent approach at the third to set up her first birdie of the round.
Her iron play was certainly on point and at the par five seventh she got to two under for her round as her five wood approach finished just 30 yards away and she was able to pitch to three feet.
At the next she pushed her approach slightly when going for the middle of the green but she just cleared the danger and finished 12 feet away, capitalising on that piece of good fortune to open up a big lead on the field.
However she could not maintain the hot pace coming down the stretch.
Santilli added: “I had played 27 holes the day before and got a bit tired on the back nine. I lost a bit of focus on my putting.”
Her new putter had done its job in the morning to keep her in contention but four bogeys on the back nine meant she finished four over for the tournament. Behind her Kent and Gee posted second-round 73s while Wentworth’s Millie Cottrell claimed fourth on countback thanks to her afternoon 74.