Ladies British Open Am: Meadow takes top honors

HOYLAKE, England (July 1, 2012) -- Stephanie Meadow of Northern Ireland is the 2012 Ladies British Open Amateur champion. She beat Spain's Rocio Sanchez Lobato 4 and 3 in the final at Carnoustie on June 30. Meadow, a 20-year-old student at Alabama, was three up after only six holes against her Lobato, a 19-year-old from Marbella, Spain and student at Georgia. Meadow won the par-4 first hole, and went on to double her lead with another par at the second. Both players birdied the third hole for a half, but then Meadow birdied the fourth. Lobato won the fifth hole to cut her deficit to two. Meadow came back with wins on Nos. 6 and 7 to get to four up. A birdie on No. 8 got Lobato to just three down. The ninth was halved in pars, leaving Meadow in the strong position of three up at the turn. After a half at the 10th, Meadow went four up with her third birdie of the round at the 11th. Lobato won the 12th, but Meadow countered with a birdie on 13 to get to four up with five to play. The 14th hole was halved leaving Meadow the winner by 4 and 3. With this win, Meadow earns a spot in the field for the Ricoh Women's British Open at Hoylake in September.