Swedan’s Linn Grant has won the Ladies British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship with Lurgan’s teen sensation Annabel Wilson securing a tie for second place.
Wilson had eagled her final hole in round three, holing a monster putt for a two at the 273-yard 18th to set-up a final day charge, and duly birdied her opening three holes in the final round to put her in serious contention for the title.
However Grant was unflappable, birdying her two remaining holes of the final round to post a one-under-par 72 to claim victory by three strokes over Hannah Screen and Wilson with a four-under-par total of 288. Three bogeys in a row from the 13th were ultimately Annabel’s undoing.
Remarkably, the Swede’s win came 49 years after her grandfather, James Grant of Inverness, won the Scottish Boys Championship over the same East Lothian links.
It was also a season’s Scottish double for the 18-year-old from Helsingborg, who had her father John as her caddie. Back in April, she won the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship at Royal Troon.
Grant, who carded a second round 68 yesterday, the lowest round of the championship, was one ahead after a third round 71. She was one behind by the turn and still one adrift with six holes to play.
While others faltered in the testing, blustery conditions, the young Swede produced a stunning finish. She holed from 12 feet for a birdie at the 17th and then drove the green at the par four 18th.
Last month, Grant enjoyed a career highlight when she competed for Team Europe in the Junior Solheim Cup.
Screen and Wilson tied for second place on a one-under-par total of 291 with Olivia Winning in fourth place on a one-over-par total of 293.
Screen, from Berkhamsted Golf Club, was in the hunt all the way but bogeys at the 16th and 17th saw her having to settle for the share of second place. She closed with a 74.
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