Maths mix-up denies Wilson a Major spot
A MATHEMATICAL mix-up means world No 1 Leona Maguire and not Lurgan’s Annabel Wilson has been declared the winner of the 2017 Great Britain and Ireland’s Women’s Order of Merit.
Wilson (16) was thrilled to see her name atop the updated rankings following her joint runner-up finish in last month’s final counting Ladies’ British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship.
The winner of the GB&I Order of Merit earns an automatic exemption into the 2018 Ricoh Women’s British Open, providing they remain an amateur.
But Wilson was informed last week that there had been “a mix up” and she had, in fact, finished eighth, meaning she hasn’t earned her major debut at Royal Lytham & St Annes next August
The R&A, which uses information extracted from the World Amateur Golf Ranking to calculate the Order of Merit, apologised for the mistake and the delay before the correct ranking was posted.
A spokesperson explained that “there was an error with some counting events not being included when they should have.”
Wilson had been looking forward to making her major debut but took the news on the chin, saying: “(I’m) not too bothered. (I’ll have) plenty of opportunities.”
It’s been a stunning year for the Lurgan star, who claimed the French Under 18 title this year and was third in the Irish Girls’ Open Stroke Play, the Helen Holm Strokeplay and qualifying for the European Girls’ Team Championship.
She also played in the Vagliano Trophy and helped Ireland win the Ladies’ Home Internationals.
Her next outing comes next month when she tees it up in the Telegraph Vitality Junior Golf Championship at Quinto do Lago from November 9-11.