Amelia Williamson (right)
Local favorite
Amelia Williamson ensured she will celebrate her birthday in style tomorrow after progressing to the last 32 of the 119th Women’s Amateur Championship at Hunstanton Golf Club.
Boosted by local support on another gorgeous day over the Norfolk links, Williamson won an all-England tie against
Rosie Belsham 2&1 to continue her title hopes.
Williamson, who holds the women’s course record at Hunstanton, turns 22 tomorrow and will face
Carolina Melgrati on her birthday morning – one of five Italian players to reach the last 32.
“I'm happy that I get to play golf on my birthday,” she said. “That's what I was kind of motivated by today, I just really wanted to be here tomorrow.
“I've been a member at quite a few clubs growing up in my childhood. So a lot of the members at the clubs that I've been a member at have come to support me from many, many years ago which is really nice.”
Italian charge
Emilie Alba Paltrinieri, who finished runner-up in stroke-play qualifying, also continued to impress after a 3&2 triumph over Swede Elice Fredriksson.
Letizia Bagnoli,
Anna Zanusso and
Alessandra Fanali, at the 19th against Marta Lopez Echevarria, were the other Italians to win.
Sweden’s
Ingrid Lindblad, second on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®), again caught the eye as she advanced after beating Perla Sol Sigurbrandsdottir from Iceland 3&1.
Lindblad said, “I didn't make a single bogey, so it was a lot of pars and some good chances on the par-5s for eagles. I made a couple of birdies and it was kind of fairway to green. You have to keep hitting fairways, keep hitting greens, putting pressure on your opponent.
“We don't play in a lot of wind on this kind of course at home, so you don't get to see this a lot. It's nice to get out here and figure it out. I’m feeling confident for the next round.”
Opportunities for winner
With this week’s winner earning 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, Lindblad will hope to continue her form.
Curtis Cup player Annabell Fuller – the beaten finalist in 2020 – also maintained her quest to land the title with a 2&1 victory over Katri Bakker from Finland, as did her Great Britain and Ireland team-mate Hannah Darling, who had to battle back to defeat England’s Isabelle Simpson 2&1.
Fuller said, “I didn't really make too many big mistakes. I was pretty solid. I made more sensible choices I guess off the tee which means I had a lot more pars than being aggressive. Today I went for a couple more pins but it's kind of the difference between stroke play and match play.
“It would be unreal to win. It would be really nice. Not last year, but the year before, being so close. It's hard to come back and not want the same thing again but obviously turn out to be better.”
Darling added, “Isabelle’s a good player. She does what she does well. It's always tough, and she was rolling in some putts here and there as well and making birdies. She was definitely putting pressure on me but then it came towards the end and I started making some birdies.
“It would be amazing to win. It would be great but, at the end of the day, it’s taking one step at a time and see if it happens.”
Top qualifier departs
German Chiara Horder lost in the last-64 two years ago at West Lancashire but went one better after knocking out the leading stroke play qualifier, Japan’s Ami Yamashita, by two holes.
“I didn't have a lot of expectations, so I just went in, had fun and focused on myself,” said Horder.
“I just played my game and made a couple birdies at the end which really helped. I didn't start that well, so it was nice. It's match play, anything can happen, so I just had fun out there. The weather is perfect and I like the course a lot.”
Ffion Tynan is the last remaining Welsh player in the field and she impressed in a 4&2 win over Abbie Teasdale from Australia. There was also a notable victory for Gala Dumez from France, who came through at the 20th to knock out Spaniard Carolina Lopez-Chaccara who is placed 19th on WAGR®.
Welsh support
Tynan said, “The Welsh girls are very supportive. I love them all. I had a couple texts from them last night wishing me well. I love the support we get from Wales Golf and we’re glad to have six players in the field this year for such a small country.
“People might not know but I love match play. I love being a little aggressive, knowing that one hole doesn't mean as much. It's kind of like, ‘hey, I can get it back on the next, and play better’, especially on this golf course.”
Ireland’s Beth Coulter, beaten finalist by Darling in last year’s Girls’ Amateur, is also through after edging out Swiss player Natalie Armbruester 2&1, but Roisin Scanlon bowed out 3&1 to Germany’s Tara Bettle.
The R&A will provide live broadcast coverage of the quarter-finals and semi-finals of this week’s championship on Friday and the 36-hole Final on Saturday. This can be watched on The R&A’s website randa.org as well as its YouTube channel.
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