Duncan is the last Scot standing

West Kilbride’s Louise Duncan is the first Scot to reach thewomen’s Amateur Championship final since 2010, and faces Iceland’s Johanna Lea Ludviksdottir

Hopes of a first all-scottish final in the R&A Women’s Amateur Championship in 24 years were agonisingly dashed on a dramatic penultimate day at Kilmarnock (Barassie).

West Kilbride’s Louise Duncan beat Broomieknowe 17-year-old Hannah Darling at the 19th hole in their semifinal clash to become the first Scot to reach the 36-hole title decider since Kelsey Macdonald in 2010.

But her opponent will be Icelander Johanna Lea Ludviksdottir after she fought back from being three down with just five holes to play to beat Aboyne’s Shannon Mcwilliam at the first extra hole in the other last-four clash.

A first all-caledonian final since Alison Rose beat Mhairi Mckay at Cruden Bay in 1997 looked to be on the cards after Mcwilliam won four holes in a row around the turn only to lose the upper hand after running up four double-bogeys over the closing stretch.

Duncan, who led the qualifiers in last week’s Scottish Women’s Championship at Gullane but was unable to sustain that form in the matchplay stage, birdied the 19th to get the better of compatriot Darling.

“It was a great match against a class player in Hannah, so I’m absolutely delighted,” said Duncan. On making the final in her home county, she added: “I can’t quite believe it.

“I’ll go home and make some dinner and go straight to bed, get as much sleep as I can.”

Duncan is bidding to become the 17th Scot to land the coveted title while Ludviksdottir has a chance of creating history as the first Icelandic winner.

“This is one of the biggest competitions I’ve ever played in, and I can’t wait to get going tomorrow,” said Duncan.