British Boys and Grils: Ortengren (Girls), Murphy and Graham (Boys) pace qualifiers

August 16, 2023 | by Royal & Ancient

Meja Ortengren (R&A photo)

Meja Ortengren led the qualifiers for the Girls’ Amateur while Jack Murphy and Connor Graham tied for Boys' medalist honors

Meja Ortengren led the qualifiers for the match play stage of The R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship at Fulford with Jack Murphy and Connor Graham leading The R&A Boy’s Amateur Championship at Ganton today.

Ortengren, the 18-year-old Swede, produced a scintillating seven-under-par round of 67 at Fulford, which featured two eagles, on her way to a 12-under-par total for the two qualifying rounds, five ahead of her nearest challenger, compatriot Josefin Widal.

Jack Murphy and Connor Graham led the way into the match play stage in the Boys’ Amateur Championship finishing tied on seven-under-par after the second qualifying round at Ganton.

Early morning fog caused a one-hour delay at Ganton but that did not deter Scotland’s Graham on the way to carding a one-under round of 70. Murphy was among the late finishers and came in with a two-over-par 73.

Stroke play qualifying for the Girls’ and Boys’ Amateur Championships was played simultaneously at renowned Yorkshire venues Ganton and Fulford, with the match play stages of both championships taking place at Ganton from tomorrow.

THE GIRLS' AMATEUR

Meja Ortengren turned on the style to lead a total of 64 players in qualifying from a starting field of 144 in the 94th staging of the Girls’ Amateur Championship.

The Swede, who made her debut in the championship last year at Carnoustie, moved up a gear at the 6th at Fulford when she holed her wedge shot from 75 yards out for an eagle three. Birdies followed at the 11th, 13th and 16th and then she produced a grandstand finish, holing a putt for an eagle three from just off the green.

Ortengren is the second highest-ranked player in the field in the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®) at 14th. She was part of Sweden’s winning team at last year’s Espirito Santo Trophy at the World Amateur Team Championships and was tied in the individual competition with Rose Zhang, the former world number one who has recently turned professional, and her fellow competitor this week Helen Briem from Germany.

Briem, who is ranked tenth in WAGR®, is also among the leading qualifiers, finishing on five-under-par, after a one-under round of 73 at Fulford.

Former R&A Girls' U16 Amateur champion Francesca Fiollerini from Italy was on the same mark, one behind Spain’s Andrea Revuelta and Yana Beeli of Switzerland. Isla McDonald-O’Brien was the leading English qualifier on four-under-par, one shot ahead of Olivia Costello from Roscommon, Belgium’s Savannah De Bock and Sara Brentcheneff of France.

KEY QUOTES

Meja Ortengren, Sweden “I am very happy with today. I played very steady and hit some fairways and some greens and made some putts. I also made a wedge on six so that really helped me.

“The key was playing as simply as I did. I hit almost every fairway and I think I missed one green so I played very steadily.

“Match play is a different game. You really need to play your own game and keep to your own plan and do what’s been working during stroke play. I am looking forward to it but it’s match play, anything can change during those rounds.

“It does give me confidence. I know that my game is good right now and that helps me but it’s a new round tomorrow and anything can happen.”

THE BOYS' AMATEUR

In the 96th staging of the Boys’ Amateur Championship Jack Murphy and Connor Graham topped the leaderboard on seven-under-par.

The Blairgowrie golfer got off to a great start with two birdies in his first three holes at Ganton and bounced back from a bogey at the 4th with an eagle three at the 9th. The 2022 R&A Junior Open champion ran into trouble on the 11th with a double bogey six and another shot was dropped at the 13th but he steadied the ship with a birdie at the 14th for a one-under-par round of 70.

First round leader Murphy battled his way to a two-over par 73 after recovering from a double bogey six at the 3rd and another at the 11th with birdies at the 8th, 9th and 13th. The Douglas golfer could afford a bogey at the last.

Frenchman Hugo Le Goff finished on four-under-par alongside Bulgaria’s Hristo Yanakiev and Oscar Bach of Norway. From Walton Heath, Kris Kim finished a shot further back on three-under alongside Jorge Siyuan Hao of Spain, who was the leading qualifier in last year’s championship at Carnoustie.

KEY QUOTES

Connor Graham, Blairgowrie

“I played solid for two days and I’m happy to move on to the match play.

“I was probably more steady around Fulford, I made a few more mistakes today but I was pretty solid on both days.”

About the British Boys Amateur

British Boys and Grils: Ortengren (Girls), Murphy and Graham (Boys) pace qualifiers

256 players compete in the Championship which is match play and concludes with a 36 hole Final. Age Qualification - Under the age of 18.

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