The three leading qualifiers from the stroke play stage of the 115th Ladies’ Amateur Championship were knocked out in the first round of match play at Hillside Golf Club today.
Elin Esborn, who was the official leading qualifier on countback after she finished on one-under-par alongside Esther Henseliet and Elodie Chapelet, suffered a loss to Germany’s Ava Bergner (2 Holes). The German then went on to defeat Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup player Annabel Fuller in the second round 3 and 2.
Henseleit, who lost out to Finland’s Anna Backman by one hole, and Chapelet, defeated by Aline Krauter (2 holes), also departed the championship after the first round of match play.
Hollie Muse, pictured left, heroically came through an all-England match with the 2017 Girls Amateur champion and Curtis Cup player, Lily May Humphreys despite suffering a painful groin injury on Wednesday. The Liverpool golfer limped through both her first (Hannah Screen 3 and 2) and second round matches to progress to Friday's last 16.
The 2016 Girls Amateur Champion Emile Alba Paltrinieri from Italy is looking to add the Ladies’ Amateur title to her record after defeating Scotland’s champion Gemma Batty 5 and 4 to book her place in the third round. The 16-year-old knocked Ana Ruiz from Mexico in the morning session winning by 2 holes.
Ruiz’s team-mate Isabella Fierro came from four down with five to play to beat Sweden’s Maja Stark on the 19th hole in the first round. The 17-year-old then went on to defeat Spain’s Laura Maria Gomez Ruiz to set up a third-round tie with Alessio Nobilio, who edged out GB and I Curtis Cup player Olivia Mehaffey by 1 hole.
Hannah McCook from Grantown on Spey and Chloe Goadby (St Regulus) lost in the first round of the match-play. Wales' Bethan Morris, lost at the 20th to P Schmid from Switzerland in the last Round 2 match to finish - after 8pm - on the opening match-play day.
The only English player to make it through to the last 16, apart from Hollie Muse, is Georgina Blackman from Chelmsford.
