South African holds off spirited Sam’s fightback
South African teenager Aldrich Potgieter withstood a stirring fightback from England’s Sam Bairstow yesterday to win the 127th Amateur Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
The 17-year-old was seven up at the halfway stage of the 36-hole final before Bairstow recovered to trail by just two holes with four to play.
That raised the possibility of a repeat of Laird Shepherd’s incredible comeback from eight down in last year’s final at Nairn, but a par on the 34th hole was enough for Potgieter to seal a 3&2 win and become the youngest champion since 16-year-old Matteo Manassero in 2009.
Potgieter, whose win earns him a place in July’s Open Championship at St Andrews and the Masters and US Open next year, said: “It’s really amazing.
“I played the Old Course recently (in the Links Trophy) and it was really amazing. I think the course is going to get in better shape so I’m really looking forward to that.”
England’s Bronte Law sank a monster eagle putt on the final green to win the Aramco Series London by a single shot in dramatic fashion.
As compatriot Georgia Hall, who had finished on eight-under-par, looked on, Law found the cup from unlikely range as both players carded third round 71s.
In the process, she took advantage of Hayley Davis’ final round nightmare as the overnight leader shot a sevenover-par 80 to slip to a share of ninth.
The winner’s card included three birdies as well as the eagle, but also a dropped shot at the fourth and a double bogey seven at the 13th.
Hall’s round was less eventful as she picked up three shots while dropping only one, but Davis suffered throughout, making par on only seven holes with six bogeys and two doubles.
Sweden’s Linn Grant claimed third place on seven-under with a 69, the same score as another Englishwoman, Charley Hull, who finished a shot further behind in fourth.
Scotland’s Michele Thomson finished in a tie for 22nd on two-overpar, with Laura Beveridge at eightover and Kylie Henry on 13-over-par.
Scot Paul Lawrie holds a two-shot lead heading into today’s final day of the Farmfoods European Leagends Links Chapionship at Trevose.
The former Open champion added a 71 to his opening 64 to sit at nineunder-par. His nearest challenger is England’s Paul Streeter.
Fellow Scot Euan Macintosh is in a tie for fourth at five-under-par.