Humphreys holds off Goadby to claim Troon triumph

England’s Lily May Humphreys dashed home hopes at the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Championship, securing another notable title at Royal Troon.

With joint overnight leader Shannon Mcwilliam (Aboyne), St Regulus’ Chloe Goadby and first-round leader Hannah Mccook (Grantown on Spey) all in the hunt going into the final 18 holes, there were genuine hopes of a first Scottish winner in the event since Heather Stirling 16 years ago. But the wait goes on as reigning English women’s amateur champion Humphreys, who only turned 16 last month, claimed another prestigious prize with a narrow one-stroke win over Goadby.

Humphreys now looks a certainty to be named in the Great Britain & Ireland Curtis Cup team this week, while Mcwilliam and Goadby will hope they have done enough to impress onlooking captain Elaine Farquharson-black.

Humphreys finished on nine under par after a superb closing four-under 68 in the breezy conditions, helped by a hat-trick of birdies from the seventh. “It means a lot as I had lost form and recovered it for this event,” said Humphreys. Goadby just couldn’t reel Humphreys in, with her bogey at the par-3 17th seeing her slip two shots behind before closing with a birdie for her own 68.

In the men’s ranks, Tyneside’s James Wilson equalled the Craighead course record with a third-round 63 as he went on to pip overnight leader Euan Walker of Kilmarnock (Barassie) by a shot in the Battle Trophy at Crail.