Women's Amateur: Match play set after abbreviated qualifying

Five players led the way Wednesday at a weather-shortened stroke play portion of the Women’s Amateur Championship. Amalie Leth-Nissen (Denmark), Carolina Melgrati (Italy), and a trio of English women; Rosie Belsham, Emily Price, and Isabelle Simpson all tallied rounds of 1-under-par to claim the top five seeds in the 2020 Women’s Amateur. The field of 91 was trimmed to 64 after one round of play due to Tuesday’s round of stroke play being squashed due to torrential rains. Wednesday’s round was delayed an hour due to high winds in the Liverpool area. Price, who won the English Women’s Amateur earlier this month, surprised herself knocking home three birdies en route to her 1-under 71. “Starting the round with high winds and the rain we had, I wasn’t expecting [to shoot] under par,” Price told the R&A. “I got off to a slow start, but I was solid from then and had a good back nine with three birdies. I’ve been playing well recently and it’s good to keep my form going.” Leth-Nissen finished strong as she carded three birdies on her final five holes to secure a first-round match which will renew her sibling rivalry with her sister, Cecille, during Thursday’s morning session. “My sister, Cecille, is here this week too,” Leth-Nissen told the R&A. “We train a lot together, always play in the same tournaments, and hope for the best for each other.” 2019 champion Emily Toy (England) made match play by the skin of her teeth on the 6-over cut line. Ninth-ranked Lily May Humphreys also snuck in on the cut line which was decided by a card countback. Two-time Senior Women’s Amateur champion, Laura Webb, posted a 3-over 75 to make match play as the 18-seed and will face Lily Huerliman in the Round of 64. Barring any further delays, the field of 64 will be trimmed to 16 with a morning and afternoon match play session set for Thursday.