winner of Scottish girls' Under-18 title
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Hannah Darling (Broomieknowe), only 13 years of age, has become of the youngest winner of the Scottish U18 girls' amateur championship.
She beat Jillian Farrell (Cardross) by 2 holes in the 36-hole final at Scotscraig Golf Club, Fife after being one up at the end of 18 holes.
Jane Connachan was 14 when she won the girls' title for the first time.
Hannah, who has three of a handicap, was one under par for the 36 holes. After being all square at the 31st, which Farrell won with a birdie 2, Darling finished with a winning birdie 2 at the 33rd, a winning eagle 3 with a chip-in at the 34th; lost the 35th to a birdie from Jillian, and then won the 36th with a birdie to her opponent's bogey.
Farrell was three over par for the 36 holes.
Darling was four up at the ninth in the first round but Farrell won the 11th, 12th and 13th to get back to one down.
The finalists combined to produce six birdies over the last seven holes of the first round, Darling birdied the 15th to go two up, Farrell birdieing the 16th to get one back. The 18th was halved in birdies.
“It’s a bit surreal at the moment, my WhatsApp is going crazy,” admitted Darling, going into third year at Lasswade High School and coached by Ian Muir.
“It’s not sunk in yet to be honest. Jillian came back at me, she was making birdies, but chipping in twice was important at both the seventh and the 16th in the second round.”
Darling, announced earlier this week as one of six Scottish girls set to journey to the Solheim Cup next month as part of ‘Project 19’, added: “You have to believe you can do it, but I’m obviously one of the youngest here so it was just about trying to do my best and how I compare with older girls.
“I only got a handicap three years ago, but I’ve been hitting plastic clubs since I was four, coming up through ClubGolf.”
SCOTTISH U18 GIRLS' CHAMPIONSHIP
Scotscraig GC, Fife
FINAL
Hannah Darling (Broomieknowe) bt Jillian Farrell (Cardross) 2 holes
