Highlights: McClymont and Green secure Women's Amateur Final spots
The R&A
28 Jun 24
3 mins
Scotland’s Lorna McClymont and Melanie Green from the United States of America will contest The 121st Women’s Amateur Championship Final at Portmarnock tomorrow.
McClymont impressed in a 4&3 semi-final triumph over Sweden’s Louise Rydqvist, the highest-ranked player left in the field at 32nd on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®) and the beaten finalist two years ago.Key putts proved key to success for McClymont, a two-time winner of The R&A Student Tour Series Order of Merit and this year’s Scottish Women’s Amateur champion. The 23-year-old will now aim to emulate the last Scot to win The Women’s Amateur, Louise Duncan in 2021, when she faces Green in the 36-hole showdown tomorrow.Green came through a tighter semi-final meeting with Marie Eline Madsen, the 19-year-old Dane who knocked out world number one Lottie Woad. The American, 22, edged to a 3&1 victory to reach the Final on her Championship debut.
Key putts for Scot
On a less blustery day compared to the high winds of Thursday, Rydqvist’s bogey at the par-5 6th handed McClymont a one-hole lead before the Scot’s stunning birdie putt from 45 feet at the 8th took her two ahead. A dropped shot and loss followed at the 9th but McClymont surged three up after back-to-back victories at the 11th and 12th. Another long range birdie putt from McClymont closed out the match from the back of the par-3 15th.“I can't believe I've reached the Final,” said McClymont. “It's pretty cool. I think staying patient was the key to success this afternoon and having a high acceptance when something didn't end up well. “I also stayed in the moment and feel enjoying it is the most important thing. Holing a long putt on the 15th to win the match was a wee bit unexpected but nice when that happened. I knew Louise would be quite a strong player, just like all of the field here.“Tomorrow it's just the same as any other 36 holes but obviously there's a bit more to do. It's just kind of having the same kind of mindset as today and over the last few days.”
Green’s dream debut
Green, 53rd on WAGR®, never trailed against Madsen but finally pulled clear with decisive birdies at the short 15th and the par-5 16th. The University of South Florida graduate will aim to become the first winner from the USA since Kelli Kuehne in 1996.“Links golf is not easy at all,” said Green. “I’ve had some lucky breaks but this golf course definitely doesn’t give you the score, you have to hit the right shots. I’m incredibly blessed to even be here on one of the top golf courses in the world. I’m just lucky that Portmarnock is being nice to me.“I’m lucky to have some really good people around me who have told me just to putt when you can, so that has been key around the greens. I’ve just assessed the shot and went with it. I like keeping it on the ground, even when I’m in America.“The fact I’ve not put expectations on myself and said ‘you’re in Ireland, go and have fun’ has helped. The people are great here, everybody has treated me like a princess. Thank you to every local here, The R&A staff, the volunteers. Everyone has treated me like gold.”
Quarter-final action
In the morning’s quarter-finals, Madsen was never behind in a 3&2 win over Annabelle Pancake, last year’s runner-up at Prince’s. The American recovered from losing the first two holes to level the match after six, but then bogeyed five of the next seven holes to bow out.Green was pushed to extra holes in a tight match with Paula Schulz-Hanssen, who was bidding to become the fourth German winner in the last seven years. Green’s birdie at the 17th proved crucial to level the contest before she prevailed at the 20th.Ireland’s Anna Foster was cheered on by local support, including members from her Elm Park Golf Club, and a ten-feet birdie putt at the 10th prompted a loud cheer to level her last-eight tie with Rydqvist. But while Foster started to make some errors – including three bogeys in-a-row from the 11th – Rydqvist, 22, stayed strong and eased to a 4&2 victory.
History of winners
McClymont, 131st on WAGR®, played in the last quarter-final tie against France’s Ines Archer yet was first to seal her semi-final place thanks to a comfortable 7&6 win. The University of Stirling student reeled off a number of pars to build an advantage, while her opponent struggled in the wind. The victor tomorrow will join a list of Women’s Amateur Champions that includes Babe Zaharias, Catriona Matthew, Carlota Ciganda, Anna Nordqvist, Georgia Hall, Céline Boutier and Leona Maguire.The winner of this year’s Championship also has future opportunities, gaining entry to the AIG Women’s Open, US Women’s Open, The Amundi Evian Championship, Chevron Championship and, by tradition, will earn an invitation to compete at the Augusta National Women's Amateur.The Women’s Amateur Championship has only been played at Portmarnock on one previous occasion, 93 years ago in 1931, with the venue last hosting The Amateur Championship in 2019 when home player James Sugrue triumphed.Watch the 36-hole Final live stream coverage for free all day tomorrow from 8.30am (plus highlights) on www.randa.tv
