Talented young girl golfers from across the world tee up in the R&A Girls’ U16 Amateur Championship this week (28 – 30 April), with a record number of countries represented.
It is the fifth staging of the popular championship and the third time in-a-row it has been held at Enville in the English Midlands.Last year, Grace Crawford posted a winning total of four-over-par 220 to triumph to join fellow Scot Hannah Darling, Italy’s Francesca Fiorellini and Rosie Bee Kim from England on the championship’s roll of honour.“I think this is a really special one for me,” said Crawford, at the time. “I’ve played in this championship since I was 12, so it is really nice to finally get the win in my last year at this age level.”
Record representation
This year sees a record 22 countries represented in the 90-player field, including some nations represented for the first time such as Puerto Rico, Thailand and the USA. Players from Australia, Iceland, India, Latvia and the UAE also tee up. Ireland’s Roisin Scanlon, who finished second behind Bee Kim in 2021, returns in search of success at the 54-hole stroke play championship. Delamere Forest’s Imogen Williamson is among a strong England contingent hoping to triumph.The top four players come the final round on Sunday gain an exemption into the Girls’ Amateur Championship at Ganton and Fulford in August.
Opportunity for girls
The championship was introduced as part of The R&A’s drive to boost the girls’ game in Great Britain and Ireland and beyond, as well as to provide a pathway to the elite amateur level for leading young players.Founded in 1935, Enville is one of the finest examples of heathland golf, and is set to provide another excellent test for the competing players. It is home to two 18-hole courses, with pristine trees and firm and fast fairways hallmarks of the challenge on offer.The winner this week will be presented with the Angela Uzielli Trophy. The trophy is named after the late wife of John Uzielli, Past Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. Angela was a decorated amateur golfer, including representing Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup in 1978.View news and scoring from the Girls’ U16 Amateur here.
