Open success
ENGLAND’S Ellie Monk was the big winner at the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open at Royal Troon.
But the St Andrew’s University student was forced to put her celebrations on hold – as she headed straight for the library before sitting an exam the next day.
It was a thrilling win for Monk, who sat behind the leading pack heading into the final day of play on Sunday, April 21.
The opening two rounds of the amateur tournament were played on Royal Troon’s Portland course, and Monk sat off the pace after carding scores of 75 and 72 on Friday and Saturday.
Following the cut heading into the final day, she saved the best for last in her final round, which was played on the championship course at Troon - the host venue of this year’s Open.
Monk was part of the chasing pack eyeing up a charge at the leaders – Ireland’s Kate Lanigan, England’s Jess Hall, Nathalie Borg from Sweden and Wales’ Katherine O’Connor – following the opening 36 holes.
Playing in the third last group of the day, she sneaked up on the rails to take the title after 54 holes of stroke play with a winning total of 218 (+2) following a final round 71, or one under par.
The fantastic final round earned Monk a two-shot victory over England’s Nellie Ong and Lanigan.
It was an exciting finale to an excellent event featuring players from 10 different nations and contested over one of Scotland’s finest links venues.
The challenges the course poses were exemplified by Lanigan’s 17th hole of her final round. At that stage the Hermitage golfer was leading by a shot, but an impossible lie in a greenside bunker led to her taking six shots on the par three.
After the win, Monk admitted she had been in the dark about the where her round had left her.
Monk said: “I was blissfully unaware of what was happening which helped. It’s amazing I can’t quite believe it. It’s a big achievement and an amazing honour.”