Darling sets up historic round on Augusta National with strong Amateur showing

Hannah Darling will today create history by becoming the first Scottish woman to compete at Augusta National after progressing to the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

The 18- year-old Broomieknowe et up the exciting opportunity by securing a spot in the top 30 after the opening 36 holes at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Augusta.

Darling, the Girls’ Amateur champion, achieved her main goal for the week as the second round was completed yesterday morning after the start of play had been delayed on Thursday due to inclement weather.

Left with three holes to complete, the young Scot put herself under real pressure after restarting with a bogey, before closing with two pars for a fourover 76.

Having opened with a 73, that left her tied for 21st as nine players progressed on four-over, leaving four players a shot behind involved in a play-off for the final spot, which eventually went to Germany’s Paula Schulz-hanssen as she prevailed at the fourth extra hole on her 19th birthday.

Darling, who had been in fine form for University of South Carolina coming into this event, sits five shots off the lead heading into the concluding circuit.

In preparation for that, she joined the other competitors in playing a practice round at Augusta National yesterday afternoon in a testing breeze.

Even though she missed the cut following rounds of 79-80, West Kilbride’s Louise Duncan also got to enjoy the thrill of playing at the home of The Masters, as all 72 players were afforded that opportunity.

Sweden’s Beatrice Wallin (7371) shares the lead with American Latanna Stone (72-72), but world number o nero sez hang is lurking ominously on threeover. Fighting to make the cut, she showed her class by finishingthe second round with three birdies.

England’s Caley Mcginty sits a long sidez hang on three-over, but her compatriot, Annabell Fuller, missed out, as did Germany’s Alexandra Forsterling and american duo au st on kim and Amanda Sambach in the play-off.

“I' m so excited and it' s even my birthday ,” said schulz-hanss en of winning that. “So that's like a great present for myself. I’m very excited and proud.”