Paula Martín has a fantastic opportunity this Sunday to become the sixth Spanish winner of the Women’s Amateur Championship, which is celebrating its 122nd edition at Nairn Golf Club (Scotland). In the third day of knockout rounds, the Madrid native has resolved two new matches.
In the morning session, Paula Martín defeated Paula de Francisco (3&2) in a thrilling fratricidal duel. Martín took control of the match on the 6th hole and from then on dominated her friend, who has had an outstanding week.
The last hurdle before the final, in the afternoon, was the Italian Caterina Don, with Paula Francisco as her caddie in the afternoon, she won 3&2 against the Italian Caterina Don.
With a calm and precise performance, the Spaniard’s play from the bunkers was particularly notable. After going two up in the early holes, a key recovery from the sand on the 9th hole allowed her to maintain the lead, and another excellent bunker shot on the 10th hole helped her extend it to three. When the Madrid native sank a putt of over five metres for birdie on the 14th hole, her celebratory fist pump made it clear how important the moment was.
Don, who was playing only her second major amateur tournament of the year, showed admirable resilience to keep fighting and managed a birdie on the 15th hole to keep her chances alive, but Paula sealed the match on the next hole.
Her opponent in the final will be the American Farah O’Keefe, ranked 8th in the World Ranking. In the morning quarter-finals, O’Keefe experienced a nerve-wracking passage to the semi-finals, as the American had to withstand the brave comeback of Marie Eline Madsen.
O’Keefe had reached a three-hole advantage after the 13th hole against the Dane, but began to falter in the final holes and Madsen, a semi-finalist last year, did not give up. She reached the 18th hole just one stroke behind and had a chance to force a playoff, but her putt of just over a metre painfully slid past the hole.
Tomorrow’s championship winner will earn a spot to compete in the AIG Women’s Open, The Amundi Evian Championship, the US Women’s Open, the Chevron Championship, and, by tradition, will receive an invitation to compete in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Additionally, the champion will be invited to participate in a Ladies European Tour event.
“I am very happy. Today was definitely a tough day with the wind and rain, and I also had to play against one of my best friends from the Spanish team. It was also a bit difficult because of that, playing against Paula, and honestly, either of us could have won. I am very happy to have made it through and very excited about tomorrow,” the Spaniard commented after overcoming a tough day.
“This is the third time I have played this championship and I think that has helped me. We don’t have many opportunities to play on links courses, and I really like it. It’s a completely different style, and match play is also a very different format. So that combination makes it very fun and I am definitely learning year after year. I am not thinking about the exemptions for the Majors that are at stake tomorrow, but that already says a lot about the importance of this championship. I played my first major (the US Women’s Open) a few weeks ago and it was an incredible experience. So hopefully I can play many more in the future, and maybe this is my opportunity.” Without a doubt, we are in for a historic day.
