On a stretch of Ayrshire coastline rich in golfing history, Scotland’s Louise Duncan ensured she became part of it with her record-breaking victory in the final of the British Women’s Amateur Championship at Barassie Links yesterday.
The 21-year-old, who was brought up just a few miles north of the location of her 9&8 win over Iceland’s Jóhanna Lea Lúðvíksdóttir, had been a model of consistency all week and her unrelenting excellence proved too much for the inexperienced 18-year-old, who also did remarkable things to reach the last two.
The margin of victory was the biggest in the competition’s 128-year history, narrowly eclipsing the 9&7 success enjoyed by the legendary Joyce Wethered in 1922. She was also the first Scottish winner since Alison Rose beat her compatriot Mhairi McKay at Cruden Bay in 1997.
“I can’t describe how good a feeling this is,” said the member of West Kilbride. “It was a great day and I had a lot of fun out there and I’m thankful to get the job done and come away with the win.”
She was understandably emotional as she was interviewed just seconds after holing her two-foot winning putt on the tenth green. There is a lot for her to look forward to, not least an appearance in the AIG British Women’s Open at Carnoustie (August 19-22). It will be quite a month for the Stirling University student as she will also be part of the GB&I Curtis Cup team that will do battle at Conwy in Wales just a week later.
The congratulations poured in, led by Scottish golfing hero and former Open champion Catriona Matthew OBE. Also tweeting their congratulations were the likes of Robert MacIntyre and Georgia Hall, who won the title in 2013.
The home favourite was certainly favourite going into the final with the Reykjavik GC player being the first Icelandic player to reach final of the Women’s Amateur. She has barely played in competitions outside her native country.
But the teenager wasted no time in grabbing everyone’s attention by birdieing the first hole to go one up. She would also birdie seven to regain her lead after losing the second.
The Scot got back on level terms again with a superb three on the par four ninth after finally taking advantage of her excellent long game with a putt to match. Just a few minutes earlier her opponent had had a great chance to go to two up.
Louise had a considerble advantage in terms of length and that proved key as she went ahead for the first time at 11. A beautiful drive down the middle left her with just a mid iron at the 442-yard par five and she found the right level to leave herself with a relatively flat 15-foot putt, which she holed.
Whether the Icelandic teenager was still mulling over her chance at eight or not, she struggled on the back nine and too often found herself in trouble off the tee. Eight consecutive bogeys followed and that was always going to prove critical against a player who had been so consistent during the six-day event.
As the finalists broke for lunch, Louise’s lead was five and any hopes of another brilliant comeback win – Jóhanna Lea came back from three down with five to play in her semi-final with Shannon McWilliam – were dealt a huge blow at the 19th as the leader holed her bunker shot for an eagle to go six up.
Birdies were needed to engineer a fightback but they never came and the champion-elect won the fourth and seven, eventually closing it out with a par on ten.
For all the scores click here