Kirsten Rudgeley carded a closing six under par 66 to storm through the field and become the first Australian to claim the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open title.
Rudgeley, from Perth, Western Australia, started the final round at Royal Troon Portland Course four shots off the pace set by Scotland’s Hannah Darling but she quickly got in her stride with birdies on the third and fifth before vaulting into the lead with further birdies at the 11th, 15th and 16th.
A sixth birdie of the day on the 18th saw her complete a bogey-free round and in the end her 12 under par 204 aggregate was enough to claim a one shot victory over Darling and 2019 Women’s Amateur champion Emily Toy from England.
It also meant that Scotland’s long victory drought in this championship was extended by another year.
It is now some 19 years since Heather Stirling became the last Scot to lift the Helen Holm trophy all the way back in 2002.
Local Royal Troon member Hazel MacGarvie also posted a 70 to finish in fifth place on eight under par while Scottish Women’s Amateur champion Chloe Goadby carded a 74 to drop from second to sixth.
Also of note was Clara Young (North Berwick) , Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) and Lorna McClymont (Milngavie) who finished in 8th, 10th and 11th place respectively.
Scottish Scores (West of Scotland players in Bold) --
-12 Kirsten Rudgeley (Australia) -Winning Score
2nd = Hannah Darling (Broomieknowe) -11
5th: Hazel MacGarvie (Royal Troon) -8
6th : Chloe Goadby (St Regulus)
8th: Jasmine MacKintosh (Murcar), Clara Young (North Berwick)
10th Louise Duncan (West Kilbride)
11th: Lorna McClymont (Milngavie)
13th: Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne)
20th: Shannon McWilliams (Aboyne)
23rd : Tara Mactaggart (Minto GC), Megan Ashley (Blairgowrie)
28th: Carianne Taylor ( Nairn), Louisa Gibson Junior (Irvine Golf Club)
38th Jennifer RankIne (Haggs Castle Golf Club)
41st: Megan Robb (Banchory)
44th: Robyn Fowlie (Forfar)
46th: Katie Graham (Hamilton Golf Club)
50th: Grace Crawford (West Links Junior Golf Club)
53rd: Katie Wright ( Stranraer Golf Club)
58th Carys Irvine ( Craigielaw)
Final Scoreboard -- Click Here
To read the file report from Scottish Golf -- CLICK HERE
