Jaffrey and Young set for final fling

Golf: North challenger McCook falls in semi-finals

American university students Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies and Kansas State) and Clara Young (North Berwick and Missouri) will contest today’s 18-hole final of the Scottish women’s amateur championship at Royal Aberdeen’s Balgownie Links (8.30am tee off ).

Jaffrey, Scottish under-18 girls champion in 2013 and beaten finalist in the national championship at Prestwick by Gabrielle MacDonald a year later, will start slight favourite to win what should be an intriguing contest.

Connie who knocked out the north’s last hope, Hannah McCook (Grantown) by 2 and 1 in the morning quarter-finals, was five under par in winning her semi-final by 3 and 2 against 17-year-old Jillian Farrell.

Jaffrey had six birdies, including three of the last four holes played to end the match on the 15th green but Farrell did not go down without a fight and was all square at the turn, both players having gone out in two-under-par 37.

Jaffrey was a GB and Ireland international in the Astor Trophy tournament played at Adelaide three years ago but her form slumped after that, partly due to the upheaval in her life by becoming a US-based student.

“I didn’t expect to reach the final this week because I have been making swing changes but it’s all come together in the match play stages,” said Jaffrey.

Young, Scottish champion at Monifieth in 2015, has carried on the impressive form – 16 under par for 54 holes – which saw her win the St Rule Trophy at St Andrews last week.

She was three under par in winning her semi-final by 4 and 3 against Jennifer Saxton (Muckhart).

Having survived at the 19th hole against Kemnay’s Rachel Polson in the second round, Young says she never looks further ahead than the next hole in match play.

“I have had my mum on the bag this week and dad’s coming for the final, so it will be a fun family occasion,” said Young.

The Clark Rosebowl – the championship’s secondary match play competition – was won by Carol Wilson (Murcar Links) who beat Sammy Leslie (Aberdeen Ladies) by 3 and 2 in the final after being two up at the turn.

It was Wilson’s second Clark Rosebowl success. She won it at Monifieth two years ago.

Photographs: Jim Irvine UP AND OVER: Grantown’s Hannah McCook plays from a bunker during her 2 and 1 quarter-final defeat by Connie Jaffrey yesterday. Phil Mickelson has ruled himself out of next month’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. Mickelson will not compete at...

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Finalist Clara Young in action and, right, Clark Rosebowl winner Carol Wilson