Many of the world’s most talented amateur golfers will assemble at neighbouring venues on England’s Golf Coast this week to contest The Amateur and Women’s Amateur championships.
In total, almost 100 players will gather at West Lancashire, a course in north-west England, for The Women’s Amateur Championship.
The championship will be played behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic with health and safety protocols in place to ensure a safe environment for players and officials.
Emily Toy (England) returns to defend her Women’s Amateur title after the former R&A Scholar edged out Amelia Garvey at Royal County Down last year. As Toy has experienced, there are significant rewards for the champion with exemptions into the AIG Women’s Open and, traditionally, the US Women’s Open, The Evian Championship and Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship.
Due to travel restrictions and the restarting of US College activities, a number of ILGU players will miss this year’s staging of the event. However, there are still six players from Ireland who will tee it up from August 25th.
Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle), Paula Grant (Lisburn), Katie Poots (Knock) and Jessica Ross (Clandeboye), all residents of Northern Ireland, have travelled to West Lancashire. While Laura Webb (East Berkshire) and Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) currently reside in England and will also compete.
This week offers the opportunity for the world’s leading amateur players to challenge for two prestigious titles following interrupted seasons due to the global pandemic.
Euan Mordaunt, Director – Amateur Championships at The R&A, said, “We have worked closely with our medical advisors, health and safety consultants and local authority to ensure we can play the championships safely this week and it will be a real boost for the world’s leading amateur golfers, who have found playing opportunities limited by the pandemic.”
Notable past champions of The Women’s Amateur include Anna Nordqvist (2008), Stephanie Meadow (2012), Georgia Hall (2013), Céline Boutier (2015) and Leona Maguire (2017).
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