Making her fifth Women’s Amateur appearance, Coulter, 19, has maintained the form that saw the Irish player win the 36-hole stroke play qualifying by three shots while Lindblad is also shining in the glorious conditions on the Kent coast.
Coulter is into the last eight for the first time after overcoming Lucy Lin, the talented 13-year-old from Cyprus, at the 19th in the last-32 before also coming through a close content with France’s Justine Fournand to win by two holes. Three birdies in the last seven holes helped Coulter defeat Fournand and set up a quarter-final with Sweden’s Elin Pudas Remler, who edged out Spaniard Andrea Revuelta in the last-16 at the 19th.
“In match play it's never over until it's over,” said Coulter. “I've always held that value and I think it's so important because even when you get down it's important to not let it get away from you. I battled back a bit this morning when it got away from me and this afternoon I tried to keep my foot on the gas when I got up. I’m really happy. I love playing these championships and we'll see what I can do tomorrow.”
Lindblad only dropped one shot in her two matches on Friday to illustrate her form, winning high-quality contests. In the last-16, the Swede took on Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio – third on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®) and runner-up in the Girls’ Amateur last year at Carnoustie – and highlighted a 4&3 victory with an eagle at the par-5 12th.
“I was just trying to keep the ball in play, hitting the fairways and greens,” said Lindblad. “I played better in the morning than in the afternoon. On the front nine against Cayetana, it was back and forth but I felt I had more control on the back nine and hit it close on the 12th (for eagle).
“We both played well and it was fun. The Swedish players seem to be working well on the links this week and we have a good national team.”
Story courtesy The R&A
