Girls' and Boys' Am

Highlights: Double delight for Sweden with victory at the Girls' and Boys' Amateurs

The R&A

17 Aug 24

3 mins

Sweden enjoyed double delight in The R&A Girls’ and Boys’ Amateur championships after Havanna Torstensson and Viggo Olsson Mörk claimed memorable victories.

Torstensson surged to a 8&7 triumph over Matylda Krawczynska of Poland in the 36-hole Final at Alwoodley to win the 95^thstaging of the Girls’ Amateur. In the 97^thedition of the Boys’ Amateur at nearby Moortown, Olsson Mörk came back from five down after 12 holes to defeat Scott Woltering from the Netherlands 4&3 in their showdown. Both players emerged victorious from the global 144-player fields at the renowned West Yorkshire venues this week.

Boys’ Amateur Championship

Olsson Mörk capped a glorious week for Sweden with his impressive comeback in the Final. By virtue of his win, he earns exemptions into Final Qualifying for The Open, The Amateur Championship and the US Junior Boys’ Championship. The first Swedish winner since his friend, Albert Hansson in 2022, he joins other past champions including Sir Michael Bonallack, José María Olazábal, Sergio Garcia, Matthew Fitzpatrick and David Howell. “I tried to play my own game, using my 2 and 4-iron a lot to keep the ball in play,” said Olsson Mörk. “I think I only hit driver two times today. To win the 18^th and go into the afternoon only one down felt like anything could happen. It’s been a great week for Sweden to win both titles. I know Havanna and she is an impressive player.” While Woltering was more attack-minded with the driver, the 17-year-old – who went to the same high school as PGA TOUR winner and Ryder Cup team member Ludvig Åberg – opted for a different strategy and used his long irons regularly. In a topsy-turvy morning session, Woltering, 18, settled quickest and surged to a four-up lead after only seven holes. Birdies at the 1^st and 7^th from the Dutch European boys’ team member and bogeys from his opponent at the 5^th and 6^thsecured the advantage. Woltering then made key putts from 15 feet and five feet to halve both the 10^th and 11^th before he highlighted the Final at the par-5 12^th.

Viggo Olsson Mork - Sweden

"To win the 18th and go into the afternoon only one down felt like anything could happen. It’s been a great week for Sweden to win both titles. I know Havanna and she is an impressive player.”

Three holes in-a-row

Having pushed his tee shot into the right rough, Woltering chipped out before flighting a pitching wedge down the hill from 160 yards into the hole for a stunning eagle. But Olsson Mörk refused to buckle and replied with a winning birdie at the 13^th. The Swede then claimed three holes in-a-row after costly errors from Woltering at the 14^th and 15^th to reduce his deficit to two. A roar of delight took the Netherlands player back three ahead after a nine-feet birdie putt on the 16^th, but he took two shots from a greenside bunker on the short 17^th and then pulled his drive on the 18^th to take a penalty drop and lose both holes. Woltering – winner of the Dutch national open match play this year – claimed the 19^th with a birdie but a run of three bogeys then allowed his rival to lead for the first time at the 22^nd. Woltering immediately replied after a glorious tee shot set up a winning birdie at the next but he was one down again when Olsson Mörk birdied the par-5 25^th. He then misjudged his approach putt at the 28^th for bogey and a two-hole deficit. As the Swede continued his steady play, Woltering bogeyed at the 31^st to fall three down and another bogey at the 33^rd ended the contest. “I can’t believe this,” said the victor. “I thought I could come back but I didn’t think it would actually happen. It felt far away, especially on the 12^th after Scott holed for his eagle. I had lost count of how many I was behind. He then smashed a driver down the 13^th and it wasn’t looking too good. “But I just tried to believe and knew there were many holes left to play. I did my absolute best to try and fight back. I received so many messages last night from family and friends back home about fighting and never giving up. It turned out pretty good. “Albert Hansson is a good friend of mine and he actually messaged me at lunch and said to keep fighting.”

Girls’ Amateur Championship

Havanna Torstensson savoured the biggest win of her young career at the Girls’ Amateur. The 16-year-old put in a composed and clinical display to beat Krawczynska as she joined a decorated roll of honour which includes major champions and Solheim Cup players such as Suzann Pettersen, Anna Nordqvist, Azahara Munoz and Georgia Hall. Torstensson’s victory also gains her an exemption into Final Qualifying for the AIG Women’s Open, The Women’s Amateur Championship, the US Girls’ Junior Championship and, by tradition, an invitation to compete at the Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship. Torstensson seized an early advantage with a birdie putt of six-feet on the 3^rd hole of the morning’s opening round and, from then on, she was in total control. As Krawczynska, a three-time Polish junior champion, struggled to replicate the form that had swept her into the Final, Torstensson’s assured play fortified her position of authority and she was six-up through 11 holes. Krawczynska could not gain a foothold in the tussle but the 18-year-old trundled in a 25-footer on the 15th for a birdie to give herself a much-needed lift.

Havanna Torstensson - Sweden

"It’s the biggest win of my career. I’m so grateful to be the winner and I’m already looking forward to playing again next year."

Swede in charge

The Pole then clawed another hole back on the 17^th when Torstensson shanked her second shot into the trees but the Swede moved back into a five-hole lead on the 18^th. Having won the opening two holes of the afternoon to extend her lead to seven, Torstensson was in charge and Krawczynska’s day would unravel on the 28^th hole when she thinned a bunker shot over the green and lost her ball. Her concession there meant that Torstensson was seven-up with just eight to play and the victory was sealed on the short 29^th when Krawczynska’s par putt lipped-out and Torstensson tidied up a title-winning three. She became just the third Swede, after Nordqvist and Maria Hjorth, to win the Girls’ Amateur. “It feels amazing,” said Torstensson. “I can’t believe it really but I am so happy. I played some very steady golf. I didn’t make many mistakes which helped, and I played the par-5s very well. It’s the biggest win of my career. I’m so grateful to be the winner and I’m already looking forward to playing again next year. “I was very nervous starting off this morning. This was the biggest championship I have ever played in so there were lots of nerves. I was so far ahead. My head was wondering what would happen if I won so it was important for me to try to stay in the moment. “I was a little bit shaky over the putt to win it so it was a relief when it went in. Matylda maybe didn’t play her best but sometimes that happens. I reached the quarter-finals last year and I learned a lot from that. I brought all that experience into this week and it’s really helped. I’m so happy.” The R&A Girls’ and Boys’ Amateur championships will be held at Conwy and County Louth respectively from 11–16 August 2025.

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