Melanie Green enjoyed a dream debut at the Women’s Amateur Championship to claim a two-hole victory over Scotland’s Lorna McClymont after an epic final at Portmarnock.
The 22-year-old, becomes the first American to win the prestigious title since Kelli Kuehne in 1996, continued her new love for links golf after fighting back from four down after eight holes to win the see-saw 36-hole contest on a rain-soaked day in Ireland.
McClymont had edged one-hole ahead with three to play, but Green showed remarkable resilience to again bounce back and sealed success with a 22-foot birdie putt on the final hole.
In the tough conditions, McClymont – who had her mum, Gail, caddying for her – settled the quickest and Green’s bogey at the 3rd gave the Scot the early lead.
The American was then unable to escape from thick rough at the 5th and was forced to concede the hole. Green, who chose not to have a caddie, continued to struggle in the weather and found herself three down at the 6th following a first birdie in the Final from McClymont.
Green’s bogey at the 8th saw her four down and in real trouble before mounting a stirring comeback.
A birdie at the 9th, after an excellent approach, put a real spring in Green’s step and she suddenly warmed to the task despite the incessant rain. As Green steadied, McClymont bogeyed four holes in a row from the 11th and lost three of them as the final suddenly returned to all square after 14.
McClymont found trouble at 16 allowing Green to complete her recovery and lead for the first time, a one-up advantage she held to the lunchtime break.
Green, a member of the USA team for next week’s Arnold Palmer Cup at Lahinch, moved two-up when her opponent’s tee shot found a penalty area at the 21st.
They exchanged the next two holes before McClymont’s bogey at the par-5 24th dropped her to three down.
McClymont rallied with a winning par at the short 25th and only her second birdie of the day at the 28th to claw back to only one down once more.
Green had chances to extend the lead, notably missing a short putt at the par-5 31st, before the Scot pulled all square after a superb approach to five feet at the 32nd.
The Scot rolled in at the next from 15 feet for back-to-back birdies to go ahead only for Green to immediately reply with her birdie at the long 34th as the crowds were treated to a grandstand finish.
As the sun finally emerged, McClymont bogeyed the 35th before Green’s decisive birdie at the last.
The University of South Florida graduate has now secured places in the fields for the Evian Championship and AIG Women’s Open later this summer and the Chevron Championship and US Women’s Open in 2025 by virtue of her win.
Green, ranked 53rd on the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking, will also receive an invitation to compete in next year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur.