Ami Yamashita (Royal and Ancient photo)
On her first visit to the United Kingdom, 17-year-old Ami Yamashita of Japan incredibly eagled the second and third holes at Hunstanton Golf Club – the latter with a holed approach – on her way to a 7-under-par round of 66 and a 36-hole total of eight-under to lead 64 qualifiers through to the match play stages at the 119th Women’s Amateur Championship.
Yamashita, who qualified for the championship after winning The Royal Golf Club Junior event in her homeland, finished on the same mark as Italian Emilie Alba Paltrinieri but secured top spot on card countback.
Proud achievement
“I wasn't really thinking about being top qualifier but I really enjoyed playing and I'm very happy,” she said. “I’ve never managed two eagles like that. On the second hole, it was a par-5 and I got on in two and had a long putt that went in.
“On the third hole, the second shot went in the hole directly which was very lucky. But I enjoyed it. It’s my first time in the UK and I’m very proud. I enjoy match play.”
In glorious scoring conditions on the Norfolk coast, Paltrinieri displayed the form that has seen her shine in R&A championships in recent years after she signed for back-to-back rounds of 69. The 20-year-old won the Girls’ Amateur title in 2016 at Royal St David’s and lost in the semi-finals of the Women’s Amateur in 2020.
She commented, “I'm happy with my attitude on the course. I was pretty calm and steady throughout the 36 holes.
“My short game was amazing. I made some very long putts, which I'm happy about. And tomorrow, I mean, it's a new tournament starting. I love match play, I think it's fun. You can take a few aggressive lines and you never know until the end. So I'm excited.”
Italian success
Another Italian, Alessandra Fanali, who lost in a three-way play-off to Morgane Metraux at the Ladies Italian Open on the Ladies European Tour earlier this month, again impressed to finish on seven-under after a 70 on day two, with countrywoman Anna Zanusso fourth on six-under.
“It was a very good day, birdie, birdie on the first two holes and I kept going,” said Fanali. “I made two other two birdies and was four-under after 11 holes. Then I got a little bit slow, made some bogeys, but finished good with a birdie on 18.
“I like this tournament. I've been playing very good here so I'm excited for the next days.”
Curtis Cup player Hannah Darling comfortably qualified on five-under-par, helped by a blistering run of six birdies in her opening 11 holes, along with Spaniard Carla Bernat. The Scot is bidding to win a third R&A championship after securing the Girls’ Amateur title last year and the Girls’ U16 Amateur honors in 2018.
“I did what I needed to do, made the qualifying cut, and that's all you need to do right now,” said the Broomieknowe member. “There was a lot of good stuff in there and it's been a promising few days but there's a few things I need to go and work on for tomorrow and for the next few days. I’m happy enough with how it's gone.
“The Curtis Cup was great, it didn't go the way I wanted it to but I love playing for a team. I always have. I've been on some good form over the last few months and I just need to keep it going.”
Top-ranked Lindblad progresses
Ingrid Lindblad, second on the World Amateur Golf Ranking®, eased into the knock-out stages after successive 71s on four-under.
German player Charlotte Back also progressed on four-under, the same mark as Esme Hamilton from England.
Back added, “I’ve really enjoyed this championship. It's been one of the biggest events in my calendar and I really like being here.
“I don't think I'll change my strategy in the match play. I'll just play like I did the last two days, make a lot of pars and maybe some birdies drop. Winning this week is the biggest goal. We all come here to win, and sometimes it happens, sometimes not, so it would be nice.”
Those qualifying on three-under included Scotland’s Grace Crawford, winner of the R&A Girls’ U16s title at Enville in April, Harriet Lynch from England and Ireland’s Roisin Scanlon. Another Curtis Cup player, Annabell Fuller, was among those to progress on two-under and Hunstanton member Amelia Williamson.
Cut mark
The qualifying mark for the top-64 players fell at three-over-par. Those missing out included defending champion Louise Duncan from Scotland, who dropped a costly shot on the last, Ireland’s Lauren Walsh and English player Caley McGinty.
This week’s winner will earn places in the AIG Women’s Open, US Women’s Open, The Amundi Evian Championship and, by tradition, an invitation to the Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship.
ABOUT THE Ladies British Amateur
This championship, along with the US Women’s
Amateur Golf Championship, is considered the
most
important in women’s amateur golf.
The first stage of the Championship involves
144
players each of whom plays two rounds of 18
holes.
The 64 lowest scores over the 36 holes will
compete
in the match play stage of the Championship.
Each
match will consist of one round of 18 holes,
including
the Final.
The ‘Pam Barton Memorial Salver’ is awarded to
the
winner of the Championship, while the runner-
up
receives The Diana Fishwick Cup. An
international
team award is presented after the stroke play
qualifying rounds.
View Complete Tournament Information