Grace Crawford continued her form after the opening day of the R&A Girls’ U16 Amateur Championship at Enville.
We caught up with @GracieRitaGolf after her impressive opening round at @EnvilleGolf 😎👏 pic.twitter.com/SgkwI6dfgc
— The R&A (@RandA) April 22, 2022
The Scot holds a share of the lead with Marina Joyce-Moreno after both carded opening rounds of one-over-par 73.
Last weekend, Crawford ended a 20-year wait for a home victory in the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open after a stunning final round performance at Royal Troon.
Up-and-down round
At just 15 years old, the North Berwick player became the youngest winner of the Helen Holm since Leona Maguire in 2009 and the first Scot to win since it Heather Stirling in 2002.
Having finished fifth in the Girls’ U16 Amateur last October, Crawford again found the Staffordshire venue to her liking. In a rollercoaster round, Crawford mixed five birdies with four bogeys to put herself in a good position in the 54-hole stroke play championship.
“It was a decent round,” said Crawford. “It wasn’t playing easy out there as it was very windy so it was a battle. I’m pleased with my game and I’m really excited to see what I can do on Saturday.
“I’ve played in the R&A Girls’ U16 Amateur since I was 12-years-old, so it’s a familiar one and it’s a special championship for me.
“I’ve always been one of the youngest players so now playing my last year in it is exciting. I’m hoping for something good. I’ll just give it my best and see what the end result is. I’ve known a lot of friends playing at this level for a number of years but it’s also nice to see some new faces coming through.”
Moreno confident
A bogey at the 17th saw Moreno drop into a tie for the lead after a solid opening effort.
“I started playing really well and then I got to the 10th and it got very windy on the hardest holes,” said the 16-year-old. “But I kept on making pars and played really well.
“I played here last year and started well too, but then the last two days didn’t go as well. I was a bit nervous on the 15th today with the cameras there but it motivated me. I think the course suits me.”
On her debut in the championship, Germany’s Uma Bergner sits a shot further back on two-over-par following a 74, impressively finishing her round with three straight birdies.
“It’s a really good course and it was a pleasure to play,” said the 15-year-old. “I’m excited to be here. It was fun out there and I’m looking forward to the next two days.
“The courses are a little bit different in Germany so I’m excited to make some new memories. I’m trying to manage the course and do my best.”
A strong round of 73 (+1) in difficult conditions leaves @GracieRitaGolf as the current clubhouse leader 🏴
— The R&A (@RandA) April 22, 2022
Check out the live scoring here 👉 https://t.co/6L64rhMnSW pic.twitter.com/7AFIfZ4Jiu
Kim begins defence
Estonia’s Elizaveta Sofia Reemet, the second highest-ranked player in the international field, also recorded an opening 74, as did Amandine Seguin from France. Germany’s Marie-Agnes Fischer is well-placed too following her 75, alongside Tiphani Knight from the Czech Republic. England’s Honor Johnson is next best on four-over after a 76.
Defending champion Roise Bee Kim posted a six-over-par 78, while her fellow England team-mate Roisin Scanlon – the runner-up last year – finished on seven-over.
Italy’s Paris Appendino is the highest-ranked player in the field, sitting at 412th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking®, but she struggled to an 86.
The R&A introduced the Girls’ U16 Amateur Championship as part of its drive to boost girls’ golf in Great Britain and Ireland and beyond, and provide a pathway to elite amateur golf for leading young players.
In 2020, heathland venue Enville became the latest among a growing list of English clubs to sign up to The R&A’s Women in Golf Charter.
