The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Goadby to defend top Scottish title
Scotland’s top female amateur golfers are set to head to Aberdeenshire for the 2022 Scottish Women’s Amateur Championship, which gets under way at Trump International Golf Links today.
The three-day event starts with 36 holes of strokeplay before the top 16 qualify for the weekend’s match-play.
The last-16 and quarter final ties will take place tomorrow before the semifinals and final on Sunday.
In 2021, Chloe Goadby claimed the Women’s Amateur title, beating Tara Mactaggart 4&3 in the final.
Having finished 14th in the strokeplay qualifying, Goadby put on a strong display throughout the knockout stages, including an impressive 5&4 victory over Hannah Darling in the semi-final on her way to victory.
The tournament boasts an impressive list of past winners stretching back more than 100 years, including Catriona Matthew in 1993 and 1994.
There are several players in the field this week who will fancy their chances at lifting the trophy on Sunday.
Fresh from winning the St Rule Trophy at St Andrews, Dunfermline’s Jennifer Saxton will be looking to carry momentum from that stunning victory.
Last year’s winner Goadby finished runner-up to Saxton at St Andrews and in the Welsh Ladies Open Strokeplay Championship.
Lorna Mcclymont is another player who will be feeling confident at Trump International, having won the 2022 Irish Women’s Amateur Open Championship last month.
Mcclymont has continued that fine form, posting a top-10 finish at the St Rule Trophy.
Meanwhile Sweden’s Ingrid Lindblad fired the lowest score by an amateur in US Women’s Open history to set the early clubhouse target on day one at Pine Needles.
Playing alongside her idol Annika Sorenstam, Lindblad carded seven birdies and one bogey in an opening six-under-par 65, eclipsing the previous best of 66 which has been achieved three times, most recently by Gina Kim in 2019.
That gave the 22-year-old a two-shot lead over fellow Swede Anna Nordqvist and Australia’s Minjee Lee, with Americans Lexi Thompson and Ally Ewing on three under.
“I hit a few shots close to the pin and then my putting was great today,” Lindblad said.
“Made a few par saves and made a few putts for birdies. It just worked from fairway to green.
“I felt like the course would be a little bit more narrow. I missed a few tee shots today that I thought would be a little bit more off, but then I get to the ball and I’m like, ‘oh, it’s fine’.
“The green areas were tough. You had to hit the right section of the green to not run off the slopes and everything. It’s a great US Open course.”
Asked about playing alongside 10-time major winner Sorenstam, Lindblad added: “I’ve played her tournaments since like 2014.
“Then when I saw that I’m playing with her I was in shock. I was like, this cannot be true.
“Then on the first tee box I get her scorecard, I’m like, I have Annika’s scorecard in my hands. But it was really cool. We had fun out there. She fist pumped me for a few birdies, and it was fun.”
Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh carded a first round 73 to share 78th place – two shots ahead of fellow Scot, amateur Louise Duncan.