England Golf Girls’ Squad star Lauren Crump made it back-to-back English Girls’ Open Stroke Play titles after a stunning week of golf at Sherwood Forest.
A 7-under first day put her in a great position but Lancaster’s Daisy Lee played some remarkable golf herself to lead after rounds two and three.
But despite being three shots back with 18 holes to play, Crump held her nerve to shoot six birdies in her final round as she finished 18-under for the tournament and two clear of Lee to lift the title for the second year running.
She said: “It feels amazing. I came into the week knowing there was a lot of pressure on me to do it again and I'm just really happy to do it!
"I'm playing some of my best golf. I struck my irons really well and putted so good. I saw through 10 holes that I was tied with Daisy, and I knew there were a couple of par-5s and I needed to take advantage of them and I managed to hole some important putts.
"Having won it last year, coming down the last few holes, I didn't feel as nervy as I did last time, and I was just making pars and trying to get it there."
There's not much time for celebrating for Crump, who goes into AIG Women's Open Final Qualifying at Pyle & Kenfig on Monday, hoping to achieve one of her dreams.
She added: "It would be amazing to follow in the footsteps of someone like Lottie Woad and be able to play at the AIG!"
The first two days of the English Girls' Championship saw Crump shoot -7 and level-par, and she turned up the heat early on the final morning as she eagled 8 and birdied 9, but Lee made four birdies of her own on the front nine to hold a two-shot advantage.
Iceland’s Pamela Osk Hjaltadottir fired an impressive bogey-free 68 (-5) to race up the board, as did Crump’s England Golf teammate Elizabeth Wilson who made four birdies and an eagle.
But it was Crump and Lee who continued to play the best golf, with the lowest scores of round three. Both players shot 67 (-6), with Lee making a whopping eight birdies, including four on the spin from holes 13-16.
Despite a three-shot advantage heading into the final round, three bogeys for Lee and two birdies for Crump saw them back on a level playing field with nine holes to go. The momentum stayed with Crump who birdied four out of five holes from 12-16 as she looked to have sealed the deal – until Lee rolled in a 15-footer for eagle on 13. However, Lee missed a short par putt on 14 as Crump parred her way in to ease to victory.
Crump’s England Girls’ teammate Chloe Tarbard (Royal Norwich), who was her playing partner on the final day, also enjoyed some tremendous golf as she finished sole 3rd on -12 thanks to a final-round 69 (-4).
The round of the tournament however came from Sunningdale’s Mia Ingham (pictured below) who fired an amazing bogey-free 65 (-8) to rocket up to 4th in the final standings - and in doing so picked up the Sherwood Forest course record.
Wilson (Norwood Park) and Imogen Williamson (Delamere Forest) finished tied-5th on -9 overall in a brilliant week of golf from the girls.
Crump also picked up the Hazards Salver for being the leading under-16 GB&I player of the championship. Click here to see the final leaderboards.
But despite being three shots back with 18 holes to play, Crump held her nerve to shoot six birdies in her final round as she finished 18-under for the tournament and two clear of Lee to lift the title for the second year running.
She said: “It feels amazing. I came into the week knowing there was a lot of pressure on me to do it again and I'm just really happy to do it!
"I'm playing some of my best golf. I struck my irons really well and putted so good. I saw through 10 holes that I was tied with Daisy, and I knew there were a couple of par-5s and I needed to take advantage of them and I managed to hole some important putts.
"Having won it last year, coming down the last few holes, I didn't feel as nervy as I did last time, and I was just making pars and trying to get it there."
There's not much time for celebrating for Crump, who goes into AIG Women's Open Final Qualifying at Pyle & Kenfig on Monday, hoping to achieve one of her dreams.
She added: "It would be amazing to follow in the footsteps of someone like Lottie Woad and be able to play at the AIG!"
The first two days of the English Girls' Championship saw Crump shoot -7 and level-par, and she turned up the heat early on the final morning as she eagled 8 and birdied 9, but Lee made four birdies of her own on the front nine to hold a two-shot advantage.
Iceland’s Pamela Osk Hjaltadottir fired an impressive bogey-free 68 (-5) to race up the board, as did Crump’s England Golf teammate Elizabeth Wilson who made four birdies and an eagle.
But it was Crump and Lee who continued to play the best golf, with the lowest scores of round three. Both players shot 67 (-6), with Lee making a whopping eight birdies, including four on the spin from holes 13-16.
Despite a three-shot advantage heading into the final round, three bogeys for Lee and two birdies for Crump saw them back on a level playing field with nine holes to go. The momentum stayed with Crump who birdied four out of five holes from 12-16 as she looked to have sealed the deal – until Lee rolled in a 15-footer for eagle on 13. However, Lee missed a short par putt on 14 as Crump parred her way in to ease to victory.
Crump’s England Girls’ teammate Chloe Tarbard (Royal Norwich), who was her playing partner on the final day, also enjoyed some tremendous golf as she finished sole 3rd on -12 thanks to a final-round 69 (-4).
The round of the tournament however came from Sunningdale’s Mia Ingham (pictured below) who fired an amazing bogey-free 65 (-8) to rocket up to 4th in the final standings - and in doing so picked up the Sherwood Forest course record.
Wilson (Norwood Park) and Imogen Williamson (Delamere Forest) finished tied-5th on -9 overall in a brilliant week of golf from the girls.
Crump also picked up the Hazards Salver for being the leading under-16 GB&I player of the championship. Click here to see the final leaderboards.
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