Duncan vows to bounce back from ‘embarrassment’ in Augusta Women’s Amateur

They both aim to be back. “That’s a no-brainer,” said Hannah Darling of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and fellow Scot Louise Duncan is aiming to go the full distance, if there is a next time.

In an honest assessment of her week in Georgia, Duncan said she felt “embarrassed” about the performance, but the women’ s Amateur champion from West Kilbride is aiming to turn that into a positive.

“Going into the tournament, I was on edge, not feeling myself and nervous, but not in the way I was before the final of the Britishamateur and the aigwomen’ s Open ,” the 21- year-old told The Scotsman. “It was more an anxious nervousness, which I haven’t experienced before.

“I had a week of practice out here before the tournament, but still felt like whatever I did I wasn’t going to be as prepared as other people. My mindset wasn’t in the right place going into it and the results showed that.”

Duncan carded rounds of 79-80 at Champions Retreat to miss out on Saturday’s final round at Augusta National, where American 16-year-old Anna Davis became the event’s youngest winner.

“It’s not where I wanted it to be,“said Duncan of her game, “but I struggled to stay positive and look at the opportunities I had to turn it around. I almost had a feeling I wasn’t going to play well, which is a horrendous attitude to have and I doubt any of the players in that field had that mindset.

“But now, after getting over the initial disappointment/ embarrassment, it was probablya good thingihadt hat experience, as I know what I need to go and work on mentally and on-course wise.”

The Stirling University student will be back in america for the US Women’s Open at Pine Needles in june, before heading to Muirfield later in the year for the AIG Women’s Open.

“I’ve learnt loads in terms of ho wine ed to prepare and what I need to do in order to have the best possible chance to perform well,” said Duncan.

Darling, who tied for 27th after a closing 79 at Augusta National, is determined to be back for another crack at this title. “Oh yeah, there’s no doubt about it,” said the 18-year-old from Broomieknowe. “That’s the goal as it’s such an amazing tournament.”