Month: August 2024

Torstensson surged to a 8&7 triumph over Matylda Krawczynska of Poland in the 36-hole Final at Alwoodley to win the 95^th staging of the Girls’ Amateur. In the 97^th edition of the Boys’ Amateur at nearby Moortown, Olsson Mörk came back from five down after 12 holes to defeat Scott Woltering from the Netherlands 4&3 in their showdown. Both players emerged victorious from the global 144-player fields at the renowned West Yorkshire venues this week.

Boys’ Amateur Championship

Olsson Mörk capped a glorious week for Sweden with his impressive comeback in the Final. By virtue of his win, he earns exemptions into Final Qualifying for The Open, The Amateur Championship and the US Junior Boys’ Championship. The first Swedish winner since his friend, Albert Hansson in 2022, he joins other past champions including Sir Michael Bonallack, José María Olazábal, Sergio Garcia, Matthew Fitzpatrick and David Howell.

While Woltering was more attack-minded with the driver, the 17-year-old – who went to the same high school as PGA TOUR winner and Ryder Cup team member Ludvig Åberg – opted for a different strategy and used his long irons regularly.

In a topsy-turvy morning session, Woltering, 18, settled quickest and surged to a four-up lead after only seven holes. Birdies at the 1^st and 7^th and bogeys from his opponent at the 5^th and 6^th secured the advantage. Woltering then made key putts from 15 feet and five feet to halve both the 10^th and 11^th before he highlighted the Final at the par-5 12^th.

Having pushed his tee shot into the right rough, Woltering chipped out before flighting a pitching wedge down the hill from 160 yards into the hole for a stunning eagle. Olsson Mörk refused to buckle and replied with a winning birdie at the 13^th and soon claimed three holes in-a-row after costly errors from Woltering at the 14^th and 15^th to reduce his deficit to two.

A roar of delight took the Netherlands player back three ahead after a nine-feet birdie putt on the 16^th, but he took two shots from a greenside bunker on the short 17^th and then pulled his drive on the 18^th to take a penalty drop and lose both holes.

Woltering – winner of the Dutch national open match play this year – claimed the 19^th with a birdie but a run of three bogeys then allowed his rival to lead for the first time at the 22^nd. Woltering immediately replied after a glorious tee shot set up a winning birdie at the next but he was one down again when Olsson Mörk birdied the par-5 25^th. He then misjudged his approach putt at the 28^th for bogey and a two-hole deficit. As the Swede continued his steady play, Woltering bogeyed at the 31^st to fall three down and another bogey at the 33^rd ended the contest.

Girls’ Amateur Championship

Havanna Torstensson savoured the biggest win of her young career at the Girls’ Amateur. The 16-year-old put in a composed and clinical display to beat Krawczynska and join a decorated roll of honour which includes major champions and Solheim Cup players such as Suzann Pettersen, Anna Nordqvist, Azahara Munoz and Georgia Hall.

Torstensson’s victory also gains her an exemption into Final Qualifying for the AIG Women’s Open, The Women’s Amateur Championship, the US Girls’ Junior Championship and, by tradition, an invitation to compete at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Torstensson seized an early advantage with a six-feet birdie putt on the 3^rd hole of the morning’s opening round and, from then on, she was in total control.

As Krawczynska, a three-time Polish junior champion, struggled to replicate the form that had swept her into the Final, Torstensson’s assured play fortified her position of authority and she was six-up through 11 holes. Krawczynska could not gain a foothold in the tussle but the 18-year-old trundled in a 25-footer on the 15th for a birdie to give herself a much-needed lift.

The Pole then clawed another hole back on the 17^th when Torstensson shanked her second shot into the trees but the Swede moved back into a five-hole lead on the 18^th.

Having won the opening two holes of the afternoon to extend her lead to seven, Torstensson was in charge and Krawczynska’s day would unravel on the 28^th hole when she thinned a bunker shot over the green and lost her ball.

Her concession there meant that Torstensson was seven-up with just eight to play and the victory was sealed on the short 29^th when Krawczynska’s par putt lipped-out and Torstensson tidied up a title-winning three.

She becomes just the third Swede, after Nordqvist and Maria Hjorth, to win the Girls’ Amateur.