FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play
Ellise Rymer took her game to the next level in claiming the Scottish U-16s Open Championship at Stirling.
Before yesterday her best round in competition was two under but in finishing three shots clear of Burnley’s Sadie Adams – the U-14s champion – she lowered that mark to -6 as she closed with a stunning 68.
The 16-year-old from Lincoln grabbed six birdies and an eagle on 18 as “everything fitted together”. It came hot on heels of her three-shot victory at the Lincolnshire County Championship.
“I knew the girls at the top well and knew I was going to have to play some really good stuff to get back into it,” said Ellise. “Thankfully for me, as some of them dropped back, I just kept moving forward.”
An opening 76 left her three behind Welsh player Kasumi Tran (Tenby), Northumberland’s Zara Naughton (Ponteland) and Scottish ace Freya Russell (Royal Troon).
On the second day she played with Yorkshire’s Alex Bonfield, who was just one shot back of the 18-hole leaders, and believes the Fulford player’s fast start helped her click into top gear.
“Alex started really well (She was -3 for 7 holes) and I just tried to keep pace with her and I am sure we helped each other.”
Ellise reached the turn three under and landed a huge psychcological blow at the start of the back nine. Twenty-four hours earlier she had double bogeyed the short 10th but this time around played it in three shots better, holing out from 15 feet.
She would get to five under for her round with a birdie at 13 before bogeying the next and then rounding things off in style. A perfect drive down the last left her 210 yards to the pin and she just missed the green with her five wood. Out came her 54 degree wedge and the ball disappeared to the delight of her watching parents Paul and Claire.
The previous day she battled back well from a poor start to the back nine. Stood on the 13th tee she was four over but a superb 9 iron to six feet at the 14th set up a much-needed two and then she took advantage of the short par 16th to close on two over and stay in touch with the trio of overnight leaders on one under.