Cornwall’s Emily Toy produced the best performance of her career to win the 116th Women’s Amateur Championship held at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland.
Belying her 450th place in the world amateur rankings, the 21-year-old from Carlyon Bay defeated New Zealand’s Amelia Garvey by one hole in the 18-hole final, whose outcome was always in the balance.
After both players made birdies on the third hole, Garvey went ahead at the fifth after Toy’s bogey. However, the Cornish player hit straight back at the sixth after a glorious approach set up a birdie.
The pair exchanged bogeys, before another dropped shot from Toy handed Garvey the lead at the 11th. Just when it looked like the University of Southern California student may pull clear, Garvey bogeyed the 14thto return the contest to all square. Toy let a chance slip at the 16thwhen she three-putted but made no mistake with a 20-foot putt for birdie at the 17th.
A par at the last was good enough for victory, as Toy joined a roll of honour that also includes Anna Nordqvist (2008) and Céline Boutier (2015).
Toy is the first English player to win the title since Georgia Hall in 2013, and has earned a spot in the AIG Women’s British Open at Woburn in August thanks to her triumph. She has also gained exemptions into the 2019 Evian Championship, as well as the US Women’s Open and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship next year.
The Pam Barton Memorial Salver was awarded to Toy, with Garvey receiving the Diana Fishwick Cup. An international team award was presented after the stroke playing qualifying rounds, with Italy taking the honours with an aggregate score of 296.