Sunday, 18 July 2021

CARMEN GRIFFITHS WINS THE U18 SCOTTISH MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Carmen Griffiths - 2021 U 18 Scottish Strokeplay Champion
Photo Courtesy of Scottish Golf

Katie Graham - Runner up with Carmen Griffiths
Photo Courtesy of Scottish Golf

From the Scottish Golf Website 

Aboyne’s Carmen Griffiths claimed the biggest win of her successful career when she beat Hamilton’s Katie Graham 4 & 2 in the final of Scottish Girls’ Amateur Championship at Strathaven.

The 2019 European Junior Vagliano Trophy team member came into the championship in second place on the 2021 Scottish Girls’ Order of Merit and she showed why she is currently ranked only behind Curtis Cup hopeful, Hannah Darling, on that list with a series of impressive victories in her march to the final.

The new champion’s toughest match came in the second round when she was taken to the 18th hole by fellow Scottish international, Rachel Foster, from Prestwick St Nicholas but she then beat Parkstone’s Alice Webb 6 & 5 in the semi-finals before proving too strong for Graham in the afternoon.

Graham had previously knocked out top seed, Forfar’s Robyn Fowlie, in the second round and then beat Shrewsbury’s Isla McDonald-O’Brien 6 & 5 to earn her place in the final. 

Griffiths went ahead as early as the second hole of the final and was three ahead after ten holes before Graham clawed one back on the 11th. Griffith increased her lead again with wins on the 12th and 14th and though Graham won the 15th that reprieve proved to be short-lived when Griffiths sealed victory on the very next hole. 

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHPLAY SCORES

Runner up Katie Dunn with Winner Lindsay Main
Photo courtesy of Jean MacIntyre

Lindsay Main
claimed a popular victory on her home course in the concurrent Scottish Girls’ Net Amateur Championship. 

The Strathaven player beat Elderslie’s Ava Graham 2 & 1 in the semi-finals and then collected the trophy following an emphatic 7 & 6 triumph over Paisley’s Katie Dunn in the final. She was pulled back to two up when Dunn won the seventh but then won five successive holes from the eighth to clinch the Aynsley Reid Salver.

Earlier Dunn had reached the final after securing a 7 & 5 victory over Lucie Barclay from Kilmacolm.

HANDICAP MATCHPLAY SCORES