‘Legends in the making’ to take part in Amateur Championship
GOLF
THE 114th Ladies British Open Amateur Championship at Pyle & Kenfig this week is being labelled “Legends in the Making”, writes Tony Poole.
Rising stars will be hoping to shoot to prominence on similar lines to recent event winners in Anna Nordgvist, Georgia Hall, Catriona Matthew and Carlota Ciganda.
This year the event has attracted 144 of the finest ladies in the amateur ranks from 20 countries, and the stroke-play stage got under way out on the Kenfig golf course yesterday (Tuesday).
It will continue today and by the end of play, the 64 players will have emerged who will then contest matchplay over three days.
The final is on Saturday, and all five days offer golf fans a real treat, as both admission and parking is free.
The rising amateur stars on the ladies scene will be looking to follow in the footsteps of defending champion Julia Engstrom.
Last year over the Dundonald Links in Scotland, the 15-year-old Swede became the youngest player to win the event.
The record had previously been held by Lauren Taylor, who was 16 when she was crowned champion back in 2011.
Engstrom defeated Dewi Webber (Netherlands) on the first extra hole, and both players will be teeing it up at P&K this week.
The only Welsh interest in the championship will revolve around Jordan Ryan, who plays out of the Newport club in Gwent.
A victory in this tournament will open doors for the winner to the US Women’s Open at Trump National in New Jersey next month along with the Rioch British Open at Kingsbarns in August.
The Ladies British Open Amateur Championship possesses a rich tapestry, dating back to the inaugural staging in 1893.
The tournament was held at Royal Lytham St Anne’s with Lady Margaret Scott the first champion golfer.
And P&K are no strangers to hosting big events, as eight years ago they held the Senior Ladies British Open and the Welsh Boys Championship in 2010.
Next month they will also stage British Senior Open qualifying rounds on the back of Royal Porthcawl again hosting the event.