Surrey’s Annabell Fuller missed the chance to grab the biggest victory of her career when narrowly losing to Germany’s Aline Krauter in the final of the 117th Women’s Amateur Championship held at West Lancashire Golf Club.
Fuller, 18, from The Roehampton Club, was three up after just four holes in the 18-hole final, and looked to be heading to a commanding win, but the the 20-year-old German had other ideas, and went on an incredible run of her own, winning six holes out of eight from the 5th, including a near ace at the 6th, to go three up after 12 and completely turnaround the contest.
Fuller, who won the English Women’s Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship last week, then produced her own fightback, winning the par-5 16th with a birdie and then the short 17th with a par to peg the score back to one down with the 18th play. But Krauter made a safe par down the par-four last, and with Fuller unable to make birdie, the title went to the German.
Krauter, who is currently studying at Stanford University in the US, said: “I was three down early, but I didn’t panic. It was a rough start, but I knew that I had my game and I had played well all week. I wasn’t really worried at that time. I made a great putt from off the green on the 9th which was good. I hit a bad shot on the 16th and the 17th wasn’t great as I had a bad lie in the bunker, but on the 18th I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared for a two-putt. It ended up working out.”
Krauter, who can now look forward to exemptions into the AIG Women’s Open, the US Women’s Open, The Evian Championship and Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship, added: “It’s my biggest win, 100 per cent. I won the German Girls in 2016, and then I’ve played decently in some college tournaments in the US but not been close in one. I felt under control out there. I’m not sure what did the trick, but I was quite unphased on the course which I think helped me in the wind and the conditions. It was so fun to play in the final.
“I’m now so excited to play in the AIG Women’s Open, I’m honoured. I watched Sophia (Popov) win last week, it was amazing. I had a club fitting with her in February before COVID-19 when everything was fine. To play in the event next year at Carnoustie will be amazing.”
Fuller said: “It is tough to take, but it was good fun. I knew I had to play well from the very beginning against a great, great player. Getting off to a good start was great but Aline came back. I played my best, a couple of shots leaked here and there, but nothing major. She played great golf. I tried my best to the very end and if I had holed my birdie putt it could have been different. This week has given me more motivation to practice even harder and achieve more.”
In the semi-finals, which were played earlier in the day, Krauter lost the opening hole to defending champion Emily Toy, but then reeled off three birdies in four holes to lead two up after six. Toy, who was seeking to become the first player to retain the title since Louise Stahle in 2005, again showed the battling instincts which have typified her week to level at the turn. They exchanged holes at the 11th and 13th, before Krauter secured match-winning birdies at the 15th and 16th to win 2&1.
Despite the sunshine, the breezy conditions remained a challenge and Fuller certainly adjusted to the conditions as she raced to a three-up lead after five holes against fellow 18-year-old Emilie Alba Paltrinieri, the 2016 Girls’ Amateur champion. Paltrinieri clawed a hole back at the 6th, but Fuller then reeled off four holes in a row, helped by back-to-back birdies at the 7th and 8th, to go six up after 10 holes. Paltrinieri arrowed an approach to three feet at the short 12th to keep her hopes alive, but Fuller ended proceedings with a half at the 14th to seal a 5&4 success.