Grant has momentum as semis loom at Royal County Down

Two matches remain at Royal County Down to determine the winner of the premier women’s amateur event in Europe. Four countries will be represented in the semifinals of the Women’s Amateur Championship.

On Saturday morning, USC’s Amelia Garvey, a New Zealander, will face Finland’s Daniella Barrett at the top of the bracket. Sweden’s Linn Grant, who has committed to play for Arizona State, takes on Emily Toy of England in the next match.

So far this week, Grant has been the power player. She has the best position in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, No. 25, among the four remaining players on the bracket.

On Friday, she defeated Sara Kouskova, who plays for Texas, 2 up, then took down Amalie Leth-Nissen, a 14-year-old, by a 5-and-3 margin.

“It was a good front nine in the quarter-final and then the rain came down,” Grant told the R&A. “Amalie is a really good player for her age and is playing amazingly well. She is young and I have been there myself, so I just tried to play my own game and that worked well.

“Winning here would be my biggest success so it would be really nice to do it. I’m going to try and stay relaxed and expect my opponent to hit really good shots and hole putts. I have played a lot of golf in these conditions and I kind of like it. I like these courses when you have to be patient because of the weather.”

For Garvey and Barrett, Saturday will be a chance to make history. Garvey would be the first New Zealander to win the Women’s Amateur Championship since Marnie McGuire did it in 1986.

In Barrett’s case, no Finnish player has ever won the title.

“This is the second time I’ve played in the event and last year wasn’t great as I missed the cut,” she said. “I have been playing pretty well and I think the course suits me, which has been important. I love this links course.

“I am aware I would be the first Finnish champion and it’s nice to chase history tomorrow. I’m very excited.”