Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh won for a second consecutive week on the Rose Ladies Series after posting a one-under-par 69 at a windy Royal St George’s Golf Club in Kent.
Following her triumph at The Buckinghamshire last week, the 27-year-old Scot, who is based in Beaconsfield, finished one stroke ahead of Georgia Hall and Charley Hull. Annabel Dimmock, tied for fourth with amateur Emily Toy.
“I’m delighted to be the first ever female professional to win a tournament at Royal St George’s in their first ever ladies’ professional event,” said Dryburgh, who now leads the Rose Ladies Series’ American Golf Order of Merit. It’s just so special to be the winner at a great and prestigious course, which was in immaculate condition.”
Dryburgh, who sits in fifth position on the LET’s 2020 Race to Costa del Sol rankings, bogeyed the first hole on the famous links and then picked up her first birdie on the par-5 7th to go out in level par 35. A pair of birdies on 10 and 13 followed by a bogey at 15 saw her come home in 34 to set the target.
“Winds were blowing 20-30 miles per hour, so it was tough and I hit my woods well. I used them a lot coming in. A great par putt from 18 feet on 16 helped to secure the win and then on the last two holes I hit 3-woods into the par fours and holed good putts. It was great playing with Georgia and Charley, and we were neck and neck all day, so it certainly felt like a big event and it was very special.”
She later received the Rose bowl from club captain Tim Dickson and posed with her mum Marjory and dad, John, who acted as her caddie.
The tournament venue was identified and organised through connections of Kate Rose, who would have been watching her husband, Justin, play at the venue in the Open Championship next week, had the event not been postponed. The Roses put £35,000 of their own money into the Series to help British female professionals gain valuable playing opportunities during the coronavirus pandemic.
For Dryburgh, the tournaments have provided the perfect preparation for her first AIG Women’s British Open, due to take place at Royal Troon next month. She said: “It was perfect because we rarely get to play links golf, let alone famous Open Championship venues like Royal Troon and Royal St. George’s.”