On the rugged links of Conwy Golf Club, France’s Lily Reitter delivered a performance of maturity and steel to capture the Girls’ Amateur Championship, defeating England’s Charlotte Naughton 4&2 in Saturday’s 36-hole final. With the win, the 16-year-old becomes the first French player since Alexandra Bonetti in 2010 to lift the trophy—and just the third in history.

“This feels unbelievable,” Reitter said as she was embraced by teammates and supporters. “I’ve worked so hard this year after some tough results, and to finish the summer with this title means everything.”

The Final Showdown

The final began with Naughton, the German Girls’ International champion, applying early pressure. But as the match wore on, Reitter’s composure and short game tilted the contest. By the midway point she had wrestled control, her consistency forcing errors from her opponent. With precise iron play and steady putting, Reitter never let Naughton back in. She closed out the match on the 16th green, a par sealing a 4&2 triumph.

Resilience After a Slump

For Reitter, who is based in Florida but represents France internationally, the victory marked a powerful turnaround. Earlier this season she missed the cut defending her title at the French International U21s and admitted confidence had wavered. “I haven’t been playing great this year,” she said. “But this week reminded me of what I can do. Once you win something, you want more.”

Support and Inspiration

Reitter was guided by the presence of Marine Monnet, the 1996 Girls’ Amateur champion and French national coach, who followed every shot. “It gives me extra motivation to have her and the whole team here,” Reitter said. “The locals at Conwy were amazing too—their clapping kept us going through a long week.”

A Rising Star for France

With her name now etched alongside legends of the amateur game, Reitter has signaled that French golf has another star in the making. The victory earns her exemptions into elite championships, while bolstering her reputation as one of Europe’s brightest young players. “I just tried to stay patient, stay positive, and play my game,” she said. “To win this championship is a dream come true.”

For Charlotte Naughton, runner-up honors capped an impressive week that underlined her growing status in the English amateur ranks. But it was Reitter who seized the spotlight at Conwy—her smile as bright as the silverware she held aloft, the latest in a line of champions who used the Girls’ Amateur as a springboard to the game’s highest stages.