England teenage international Lily May Humphreys gave her Curtis Cup hopes a boost when she won the Helen Holm Scottish women’s open championship held at Royal Troon.
Humphreys, from Stoke by Nayland in Essex, shot four-under par 68 in the final round to win by a stroke from Scotland’s Chloe Goadby.
It was Humphreys’ sixth title in the last 10 months, and marked a welcome return to top form for the 16 year old, who is also the English women’s amateur champion.
Humphreys was five under par, and one shot off the lead, going in to the final round. She finished on nine under after a superb closing 68 in the breezy conditions, helped by a hat-trick of birdies from the seventh, with two further birdies at 12 and 13 ultimately proving decisive.
Goadby, in the group in front, just couldn’t reel Humphreys in, and her bogey at the par-3 17th saw her slip two shots behind. A birdie at the last for her own 68 put pressure on Humphreys, but the Stoke by Nayland player held on for glory.
With an eye on this Thursday’s announcement of the Curtis Cup team, Humphreys commented: “This means a lot, as I had lost form and recovered it for this event. It’s great to have my game under control again. I think this is my biggest win, beating an international field. I felt if I could win this, then I had a chance for the Curtis Cup. My chances are up, but I don’t know whether I will get in.”
Defending champion Linn Grant from Sweden finished third on seven under – with the Swedes taking the team title by a shot over Scotland.
England’s Bel Wardle took fifth place on four under. The 18-year-old from Prestbury has already won the Portuguese amateur this season, adding it to 2017 wins in the English women’s and girls’ open championships.