Hazel MacGarvie etched her name onto a decorated roll of honour which includes the likes of Catriona Matthew and Annika Sorenstam as the Troon youngster eased to victory in the St Rule Trophy at St Andrews yesterday.
The 19-year-old, who was runner-up in the event last season, strung together rounds of 68, 70 and 70 over the New and Old Courses in the cradle of the game for an 18-under tally.
That gave her a four shot win over England’s Lianna Bailey with the Scottish duo of Alison Muirhead and Chloe Goadby sharing third.
MacGarvie, the former Scottish Girls’ champion, has been making her presence felt on the leaderboards of international events this season and was third in the Irish Women’s Open and sixth in her own backyard of Troon at the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open.
She felt a win was on the cards and she was understandably delighted to get over the line at last.
“It feels amazing,” said MacGarvie, who held a one stroke lead going into the closing round and stood firm to complete the task.
“I’ve knocking on a few doors this season. This is extra special as I finished second last year. I was playing well all weekend and I just stayed calm. It went my way today.”
Elsewhere in the amateur scene, Barassie’s Euan Walker gave his Walker Cup selection hopes a timely boost with a third place finish in the English Open Strokeplay Championship for the Brabazon Trophy at Alwoodley.
Walker recovered from an opening 75 with a spirited rally and posted subsequent rounds of 66, 70 and 66 for a seven-under aggregate of 277 to clamber back up the order.
Walker, who started 2019 by winning the African Amateur Championship, finished six shots behind Yorkshireman Ben Schmidt, who created history by becoming the championship’s youngest-ever winner.
At just 16, Rotherham member Schmidt eclipsed the feat of Sandy Lyle, who was 17 when he won in 1975.
“Being the youngest makes it even more special,” said Schmidt, who was under par in all four rounds of the championship, shooting 69, 64, 69 and 69.
“I’m just so pleased I got over the line, it takes a very long time to play the back nine when you’re in the lead.”
Schmidt’s halfway lead was cut to one shot during round three when Cornwall’s Harry Hall set a new course record 63.
Hall edged in front early in the final round but Schmidt hit back to reclaim top spot and hold on for victory.
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