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Girls' and Boys' Am
Highlights: Finalists decided on dramatic day at Yorkshire venues
16 Aug 24
3 mins
Matylda Krawczynska of Poland and Sweden’s Havanna Torstensson will face each other in the 36-hole Final of The R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship at Alwoodley tomorrow.
On a day of absorbing competition in West Yorkshire, Krawczynska recovered from a shaky start in her semi-final duel with Mannat Brar of India to win by a 3&2 margin. Torstensson, aiming to become the third Swedish champion after Maria Hjorth in 1991 and Anna Nordqvist in 2005, booked her final berth with a polished 4&3 victory over Kylee Choi of the USA. Krawczynska, who is blazing a trail for her country after becoming the first Pole to reach the final, endured a nervy opening against Brar and a double-bogey on the 1st hole had her on the back foot.Pole position
The 18-year-old, who has won three successive Polish Junior Amateur Championships, eased her way into the contest, however, and made a decisive move around the turn Krawczynska, who beat Sweden’s Amanda Gyllner in the morning’s quarter-finals, rolled in a putt of 20 feet on the 8th for a spectacular eagle and then made birdies at the 10th and the 11th to forge a commanding three-hole advantage. Mannat kept chipping away valiantly, but Krawczynska kept her rival at arm’s length with a classy, considered display and closed out a keenly fought tussle on the 16th green.
Matylda Krawczynska - Poland
“Getting to the final means everything to me. It shows the hard work and the sacrifice has been worth it. Getting to a final is a reward for all that."
Growing the game
“It was the toughest match of the week so far," she said. "I was pretty tired at the start of the semi-final and was trying hard to get myself together. I just had to calm myself down and stay in the moment. In golf, you have to accept that you’ll make mistakes. I just tried to keep doing what I’ve been doing and it worked out and I found my game again. “Getting to the Final means everything to me. It shows the hard work and the sacrifice has been worth it. Getting to a Final is a reward for all that. “I have received great support back home. I hope this inspires another generation of young players. Golf is not as popular in Poland but we are hoping that it grows. It’s a game for everyone. I’m just so happy that I can carry Poland’s name into the Final.”Happy Havanna
Torstensson, who overcame Norway’s Henriette Spilling Gjelten in the last-eight, put on a performance of poise and purpose in the afternoon and was bogey-free for the 15 holes it took her to beat Choi. The 16-year-old was four-up at the turn, but Choi mounted a spirited rally and back-to-back birdies at the 11th and 12th helped reduce the deficit to two-holes. Torstensson refused to be ruffled, however. The Swede, who will represent Europe in the Junior Solheim Cup next month, made a birdie on the 13th to repel Choi’s advances before clinching the victory on the 15th green.Final push
“My game is getting better and better as the week goes on,” said Torstensson. “It’s a long, tiring week but I’ll have plenty of energy for the final. “I played some really good golf today and I didn’t make any bogeys this afternoon. I birdied all the par-5s too which was key. I’m just going to adopt the same plan for the final. “Kylee started to play really well and reduced my lead but I stayed calm and hit the shots I needed to at the right time. It’s huge for me to be in the final. There have been so many great players who have played in this event. “I had a feeling I could do well this week. But I didn’t think I would reach the final. There’s a lot at stake now.”Historic Boys' final
Scott Woltering will bid to become the first player from the Netherlands to win The R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship when he faces Viggo Olsson Mörk from Sweden in the Final at Moortown, also tomorrow. Woltering is the first-ever Dutch finalist and will come up against Olsson Mörk in the 36-hole showdown. Woltering, 18, impressed in a 4&3 quarter-final win over Edwin Sjödin and then came up against Tom De Herrypon, who ended the hopes of Englishman Daniel Hayes in the morning after a two-hole last-eight success. Woltering was two up after eight holes before slipping up at the 9th. His French rival mounted a superb reply thanks to back-to-back birdies at the 10th and 11th and edged ahead. But Woltering, who finished 17th in stroke play qualifying, has shown battling qualities all week and bounced back at the next before he birdied the 15th to lead before seeing out a one-hole triumph.Sticking to game plan
“It feels crazy,” admitted Woltering of his run all the way to the last day. “I didn’t think coming here this week I would be in the Final but I am now. It’s a great day. I’ve hit greens and fairways all week and stuck to that plan. It puts pressure on my opponent so I’ve tried to be smart. I want to sleep now, it’s been hard work, but I’ll be ready for tomorrow. “Reinier Saxton from the Netherlands won The Amateur Championship in 2008 and it’s inspiring for me to now try and win the Boys’ Amateur. It’s a good feeling. My coach is here supporting me as well as my mum, dad and brother. I know my teammates back in the Netherlands are cheering me on too.”
Viggo Olsson Mörk - Sweden
"My short game and putting have been great, not giving my opponent chances or giving away holes. I’ve been so solid overall. I dream of holding the trophy tomorrow but it’s going to be a long day.”