FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play / 6 rounds of matchplay
Nottinghamshire’s Esme Hamilton hit the heights at Hunstanton today as the World No 780 led the way in the first round of the strokeplay qualifier at the British Women’s Amateur.
The Notts Ladies player, who is preparing to move to Kansas for her fifth and final college year in the USA, finished one shot clear of four players, including home favourite Amelia Williamson and Woburn teenager Roisin Scanlon.
Hamilton posted a five-under-par 68, birdieing five of her final ten holes while Williamson fought back from two over to get among the leaders.
“It was just quite relaxing,” said Hamilton, who finished 14th at the Rule Trophy last month. “I had my, brother, Scott, on the bag so we just kept chatting and talking things through. So it doesn’t actually feel like I shot that score.
“I made some good putts. I hit a really good shot on 11. It was from about 40 yards out and I bounced it down to about a foot.”
The birdie on 11 was followed by another on 12, 15 and 18.
For Curtis Cup player Williamson bogeys on two and three left her behind the eight-ball but she birdied six, nine, 10 and 18 and also eagled the 11th.
“I was happy with how I performed,” said the Norfolk player. “Obviously it was a bit of a struggle going out with the wind coming into your face, but I know, having played a lot of links golf, you have to stay patient.
“And I knew the back few holes were downwind so I was just waiting for the turn, really, and trying to hang in there.”
One shot further back was Somerset’s Euphemie Rhodes (70), who also made a charge on the back nine having played the opening seven in two over.
The Burnham & Berrow player said: “The front nine didn’t really go my way.
“Putts weren’t dropping and I just kept on going steady. My Mum said even or 1-over was going to be a solid score in the wind, so I just kept being positive. And then putts started to drop and I started to hit them closer and gain more confidence as I played.”
Cheshire champion Lucy Jamieson also opened with a three under round, an eagle on nine being the highlight for the Heswall player.
“I sunk a lot of lovely putts today. Some of those were crucial, either to keep a par or for the birdie but yeah, I played nicely. I also struck the ball well.”
Tomorrow the qualifiers for the matchplay stages will be confirmed with the top 64 making it through into the first round on Wednesday.
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