British Ladies Amateur Open 2009
In professional golf, The British Open is known as "The Open". In amateur golf, the British Amateur Open Championship holds an equally elevated status. It is THE tournament that everyone wants to win, the jewel in the crown of European amateur golf.
It was no surprise therefore that the Ladies British Amateur Open Championship at Royal St. David's in Harlech attracted a field of 137 world class players from 21 different countries, 94 of whom hold plus figure handicaps. Amongst the entries were Carlota Siganda from Spain, the no.2 ranked amateur in the world, and Laura Collin from John O'Gaunt Golf Club in Bedfordshire.
Click here for images of the semi final and prize giving
Qualifying
There are two rounds of medal qualifying with the top 64 scores going on to the knockout stages. The course was lengthened some 434 yards, and standard scratch went up to 76. Leading qualifier was Carlota with eight under par (14 under CSS).
Laura, a +1 handicapper, put in a steady round of 76 then followed it up with one of the lowest scores of day 2, a 71, to qualify in 12th place.
Last 64
The matchplay stages were tough, with 36 holes played each day. Laura's first opponent was Stefanie Kenoyer from the USA, and Laura won 3&2. She then beat Lucy Williams from Hertfordshire 3&1 to reach the last 16.
The last 16 matches were played on Laura's 22nd birthday, and what a birthday present she gave herself! Laura's opponent in round 3 was Pamela Prestwell from Scotland, and the match was extremely tight. Both girls were 5 under par standing on 17th tee, when Laura lost a ball. But she recovered magnificently to par 18 and take the match to extra holes. In a hard fought battle, Laura just edged through on the 2nd extra hole to face Irish wonder-girl Leona McGuire. At only 14 years old, Leona already holds a +3 handicap, has won the Irish Ladies Amateur Championship and is the current holder of the Helen Holm trophy. So far in the competition she had had 3 comfortable wins against formidable opponents, so Laura was really up against it. This didn't phase Laura in the slightest, and she romped home 5&3 to book a semi final place against no. 1 seed, Carlota. Happy Birthday Laura!
Semi Final
In the other semi-final, the Spanish no. 2 Azahara Munoz beat Caroline Masson from Germany. The crowds were out in force to watch Laura, who was the only home player to reach the semi-final stage, and at 22 was the oldest remaining competitor. Carlota is a +5 handicaper and dispatched the ball miles off the first tee. Laura too split the fairway, and then hit the 428 yard par 4 with a beautiful crisply struck iron to announce her presence in the semi final. Carlota went 1 up on the 2nd, but Laura bounced straight back with a birdie on 3. Laura's shot selection, ball striking and distance control were awesome, with her caddie, Dad Alistair working overtime. For the first 7 holes, Laura peppered the pin to set up chance after chance after chance, but Carlota showed her class, scrambling pars all the way. Laura was 1 up on the 8th, a 497 yard par 5. Her tee shot found a nice lie in the semi-rough and she launched a 3 wood onto the green and up to the flag. She duly holed the eight foot eagle putt to go 2 up.
A lip out cost Laura the 10th hole, but she then halved the next 4 holes with some of the most courageous golf ever seen. She holed a nail biter on 11, and looked dead and buried on 12 after driving into a bunker. Her shot out was still short of Carlota's drive, and she found sand again with her 3rd. But a stunning bunker shot to 8 feet and a solid putt saved par and half. She then holed a 20 footer to halve 13 and got down in 2 from an awkward position on 14. Carlota had stepped up a gear at the turn, but still couldn't shake Laura off. Biridies at 15 and 16 swung the match in her favour, as they headed for the long par 4 17th. Both girls hit huge drives with Carlota's just catching the edge of the semi, and Laura's finishing on an awkward upslope. Laura played a magnificent shot to just short of the green, but found an even more awkward upslope. Carlota made par, and Laura had to get up and down to stay alive. Faced with a high tariff shot, she played an incredible chip to about 10 feet. Her putt hit the hole but it didn't drop. The end of an amazing battle where Laura not only displayed her fantastic ability, but also showed she can play with real guts in the toughest arena. In the words of one of the LGU officials: "England is proud of you". So is Bedfordshire, so is John O'Gaunt, and so are all Laura's fans.
The Final
The final was equally exciting with the 2 Spaniards swapping birdies until the very last hole when both girls found the greenside bunker. Azahara got up and down but Carlota's putt just slid by the edge of the hole. An amazing week, an amazing day and an amazing result.
Well done Laura!!
Vagliano Trophy Reserve
On Monday the Ladies Golf Union announced the Vagiliano Trophy team of 9, the cream of the Great Britain and Ireland amateurs selected to play against Contintental Europe. Earlier in the year a provisional squad of 27 had been named with final selection to take place after the British. Laura was not named in the original 27, but so impressed the selectors that she was named 4th reserve. Nice one Laura!
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