15-year-old Annabel Peaford was in breathtaking form as she broke the New Course record at Sunningdale to help her win the illustrious Critchley Salver on Tuesday.
The 36-hole scratch women's open tests some of the country's best amateurs as they take on both the Old Course and New Course, and Peaford (Walton Heath) had a day to remember, as she fired an astonishing -13 across 16 holes to help her to an overall total of -8, finishing two clear of fellow England Golf youngster, Matilde Santilli (Foxhills).
Peaford's day started with a bogey on the 1st hole of the New Course before her day really got going on the 7th, as it started a remarkable run of 11 birdies and an eagle. Her back-nine on the New Course was an astonishing -7, while her -9 overall is a course record.
She took that form into the afternoon's round on the Old Course, starting with four birdies in the first six holes, and even though she dropped several shots on the back-nine, she was able to run out victorious, adding to her Justin Rose Junior Golf Telegraph Championship title at the end of last year.
The Walton Heath golfer said: "I'd never played in it before as I didn't think I'd get in so I'm really pleased to win. I was probably the youngest person playing!
"I was just trying to get it under-par and once I got it going, I just kept going deeper. I was really hitting the fairways which gave me opportunities to go for pins, but I learned from my experience playing the Justin Rose Series, that the greens are really tricky, so most of my focus went into reading putts really clearly. I didn't actually hole anything outside of 15 foot, or chip in, or do anything spectacular, I just played really solidly.
"I knew I had to keep it as close to level-par as I could as Matilde was just a few holes behind and there was no live scoring. I lost a bit of focus and struggled on the back-nine and was a bit tired. Having focused so hard in the morning, it was tough to carry that on, especially as there was only 10 minutes or so between each round.
"To have a course record at such an iconic golf course is amazing. I haven't shot a better score over nine holes. I'd love to better that and break some more records some day. It's crazy to think that I was one-over after the 1st hole, so it just shows you all the best rounds start with a bogey!"
Peaford's day started with a bogey on the 1st hole of the New Course before her day really got going on the 7th, as it started a remarkable run of 11 birdies and an eagle. Her back-nine on the New Course was an astonishing -7, while her -9 overall is a course record.
She took that form into the afternoon's round on the Old Course, starting with four birdies in the first six holes, and even though she dropped several shots on the back-nine, she was able to run out victorious, adding to her Justin Rose Junior Golf Telegraph Championship title at the end of last year.
The Walton Heath golfer said: "I'd never played in it before as I didn't think I'd get in so I'm really pleased to win. I was probably the youngest person playing!
"I was just trying to get it under-par and once I got it going, I just kept going deeper. I was really hitting the fairways which gave me opportunities to go for pins, but I learned from my experience playing the Justin Rose Series, that the greens are really tricky, so most of my focus went into reading putts really clearly. I didn't actually hole anything outside of 15 foot, or chip in, or do anything spectacular, I just played really solidly.
"I knew I had to keep it as close to level-par as I could as Matilde was just a few holes behind and there was no live scoring. I lost a bit of focus and struggled on the back-nine and was a bit tired. Having focused so hard in the morning, it was tough to carry that on, especially as there was only 10 minutes or so between each round.
"To have a course record at such an iconic golf course is amazing. I haven't shot a better score over nine holes. I'd love to better that and break some more records some day. It's crazy to think that I was one-over after the 1st hole, so it just shows you all the best rounds start with a bogey!"
ENDS
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org