Girls' and Boys' Am

Quarter-final spots booked at Boys' and Girls' Amateurs

The R&A

15 Aug 24

3 mins

Scott Woltering from the Netherlands knocked out the leading qualifier at The R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship to claim a last-eight spot at Moortown.

Boys' Leaderboard

Woltering edged out Denmark's Mads Heller, who topped the stroke play standings, on the final hole of their last-16 meeting, while England’s Daniel Hayes also maintained home hopes to reach the quarter-finals.

Tough conditions

On an overcast and blustery day in Yorkshire, Woltering produced one of the best performances of the week to oust Heller. The Dutchman, 18, was three up with five to play but had to hold his nerve with a clinching par-4 from 20 feet on the 18^th to seal a one-hole success. He said, “It was a tough match this afternoon against Mads as we both played well. We both eagled the 12^th and I was three up after the 13^th. It was close though as he birdied the 15^th and I bogeyed the 16^th. I did it at the end and it’s a good feeling. “I’ve just been hitting fairways and greens and trying to keep it easy. In the tough conditions you have to be consistent. I play at a links-style course at home in the Netherlands and that has helped me. I’m having fun and look forward to tomorrow.”

In-form Hayes

Hayes, 17, who finished fifth in stroke play qualifying, continued to catch the eye after defeating Iceland’s Markus Marelsson in the last-16. This year’s Carris Trophy winner is one of three English players in the quarter-finals alongside Harry Cox and Philipp Krone, but Ben Bolton lost out after Frenchman Tom De Herrypon won their tie 4&3. “It was a long day,” admitted Hayes. “It’s always hard when you may have to play 36 holes. You have to pace yourself, eat well and drink well. It was hard out there with the wind and the rain but I was pleased to come through it. I was pleased to get it done as quickly as possible this afternoon. I’ve played well recently. I’m playing the same golf, staying steady. The course is very unforgiving and you have to play well to score well. I’ve been hitting it straight and that is key here to avoid the long grass.”

Swede dreams

Two Swedish players are also in the last-eight, with Edwin Sjodin and Viggo Olsson Mork advancing. Sjodin, 16, is one of the youngest players in the field and finished third at The R&A Junior Open a Kilmarnock (Barassie) last month. Olsson Mork beat countryman Carl Moller 5&4. “It feels amazing to be in the quarter-finals, especially after missing the cut last year at Ganton,” said Sjodin. “I’ve hit really good iron shots into the greens and given myself birdie chances. Today, I holed a few which helped me win my matches. We had 15 Swedish players at the start of the week and seven made the cut so now we’re down to two and it’s been good for us. “It was really fun to play in The R&A Junior Open in July and also to go to Royal Troon for The Open. It was amazing to be given the opportunity to watch a major championship and really fun to see Tiger Woods and Xander Schauffele.” The number two seed, Leevi Hellberg from Finland, saw his hopes end earlier in the day, losing his last-32 tie 3&2 to Andrea Biagio Gagliardi. The Italian then beat American Ronin Banerjee by a hole to keep his hopes alive. While Englishman Oscar Lent exited 3&2 to Tom De Herrypon of France in the last-32, he did enjoy the thrill of holing his second shot for an albatross at the par-5 12^th. The quarter-final and semi-final ties at both championships are played on Friday, ahead of the 36-hole Finals on Saturday.

Girls' Amateur

Celeste Bobo Lloret produced a rousing recovery to book her place in the quarter-finals of the Girls’ Amateur Championship at Alwoodley.

Girls' Leaderboard

On a testing day punctuated by fitful, blustery showers, the 15-year-old from France battled back from three-down after 12 against Spain’s Noa Terroba Toro to win on the 19^th hole. In a keenly fought tussle of fluctuating fortunes, Lloret was still two-down with two to play but having reduced the leeway on the 17^th when her opponent lost her tee-shot, the spirited French girl conjured a grandstand finish.

Eagle has landed

From almost 190-yards on the par-5 18^th, Lloret launched a 3-wood into 15-feet and holed the eagle putt to restore parity in dramatic fashion. Lloret, who finished third in the European Young Masters recently, then sealed her place at the first extra-hole when Terroba Toro stumbled to a three-putt bogey. “It was a great comeback and I am very happy,” said Lloret. “I was three down after 12 but I kept going. The shot on 18 was probably the best shot of my life.”

Choi stands firm

Lloret will now face up to Kylee Choi of the USA who beat her compatriot and good friend, Angela Zhang, at the 21^st hole. In a high-quality, nip-and-tuck duel between two rising stars of the junior scene, Choi took advantage of Zhang’s trip into the fairway bunker to progress to the quarter-finals and keep her hopes of becoming the first American champion very much alive. “It was a very tough match,” said Choi. “I know Angela very well. We play a lot of golf together in the US. When I saw I was paired with her I knew it would be hard. She’s such a good player. It was the most stressful match I’ve ever played in my life. I just tried to do what my coach has taught me and keep to my routine. It was very stressful but a lot of fun.”

Bravo from Brar

India’s Mannat Brar continued her impressive march through the field as she thwarted the ambitions of the English twins, Emily and Annabel Peaford. In the morning’s second round, Brar beat Emily at the 19^th before harnessing the conditions in the afternoon and easing to a 6&4 win over Annabel in the third round. “On a day like this, par is often good enough to win holes,” she said. “These were the toughest conditions of the week so far. The other events I have played, like The Women’s Amateur Championship, have really helped me deal with that, though. “I was confident coming into this and it is growing. I have a game plan and I know when to play safe and when to go for it.” The Swedish duo of Amanda Gyllner and Havanna Torstensson also made it to the quarter-finals along with Henriette Spilling Gjelten of Norway, Switzerland’s Sarah Uebelhart and the Polish Junior champion, Matylda Krawczynska.

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