Opening Golf to the World
The Women's Amateur
Valentine Delon and Andrea Revuelta reach Final of The Women’s Amateur Championship at Muirfield
26 Jun 26
5 mins
France’s Valentine Delon will play Andrea Revuelta from Spain in the Final of the 123rd Women’s Amateur Championship at Muirfield.
The two secured their place in the climax to an outstanding week’s golf by coming through their respective quarter-finals and semi-finals in the most challenging conditions. As the wind picked up and the rain fell at the East Lothian venue, Delon was never behind in her 36 holes, beating Sweden’s Matilda Bjorkman in the last-eight and then Belgium’s Savannah De Bock. Watched by her parents, who made a surprise appearance on the links, she produced her best on the par-3 16th, where two outstanding tee shots were decisive in both victories. Revuelta saw off fellow Spaniard Cayetana Fernandez before winning a titanic semi-final battle with Farah O’Keefe, who was beaten in last year’s Final at Nairn. O’Keefe, the star of USA’s recent victory in the Curtis Cup, reached the semi-finals with a 2&1 win over compatriot Morgan Ketchum, the decisive moment of which was a long birdie on the 16th. Her match with Revuelta was a fascinating struggle. Despite the conditions, they traded pars and birdies before the Spaniard seized control with a birdie on the 17th. A half on the last was enough for her to win by a hole.
Spain’s Andrea Revuelta is into the Final of the 123rd Women’s Amateur Championship at Muirfield after beating Farah O'Keefe of the USA.
Revuelta said, “I feel like I kept trusting myself until the last putt. Farah's a great, great player and I knew it was going to take my all to win this. So that's what I did. I'm so tired. I gave it my all out there today.
“The golf course is playing so hard. Pars win holes, but not in the semi-final match against Farah. She played great and I played great too. It's just a tough course and this wind is crazy. You really need to think every shot through.
“Making birdie on 17 was very key to just giving myself a chance on 18. It was such a tight match all the way. The match never went beyond one-up or one-down, it was an incredible match.
“It's such a big tournament. I didn't play last year and I saw it on TV. I was like I really want to be here next year and have a chance at that trophy.”
It was a difficult day at Muirfield. Thunderstorms meant that play in the morning was suspended for 45 minutes before resuming at 10.30am. Then the wind blew and, by the afternoon, presented the players with a stern test.
Inclement weather caused play to be suspended in the morning.
De Bock beat France’s Camille Min Gaultier in the quarter-finals. Not for the first time this week, the Belgian had to mount quite a fightback. She was two down at the 5th and didn’t lead until the 13th, but she closed out a 3&2 win on the 16th, when her opponent found trouble in the rough.
Delon progressed to the last four courtesy of an absorbing victory over Bjorkman. Her stunning tee shot on the 16th was the key moment in her 2&1 triumph.
In the afternoon, she took an immediate lead when De Bock bogeyed the first. After back-to-back bogeys on the 3rd and 4th, she regained her lead with a birdie on the 5th and was three up by the 11th.
Two holes later, her lead was reduced to one and it looked as though another Belgium comeback was on the cards, but Delon pulled away again. Her tee shot on the 16th, to set up a par, sealed victory.
Delon said, “I'm really happy. It’s nice (to never be behind). My coach texted me last night and told me to put in a lot of intensity, starting on the first hole. It's what I tried to do and I did it so I'm really happy. I practise every day to be in this situation.
Valentine Delon from France has reached the Final after beating Belgium's Savannah De Bock.
“On the 16th hole yesterday, I won my match. This morning and this afternoon, again two amazing shots. Yes, this 16th hole is something I will remember. Five-wood really low yesterday and today two hybrids in exactly the same place.
“My parents, Leticia and Antoine, surprised me this morning, so it was really nice. I didn't know they would be here. They usually come at a good moment and in good tournaments.
“Two weeks ago, the French team selected six players and we came together to play 36 holes. So it was nice, really useful. Tomorrow, one more day, one more person to beat and I will try my best to do it. It would mean a lot.”
Revuelta had come through an all-Spanish quarter-final with Fernandez. That match went all the way to the 18th, where a half enabled Revuelta to win by one hole.
The winner of this year’s Championship gains entry to the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes, the US Women’s Open presented by Ally, The Amundi Evian Championship, the Chevron Championship and, by tradition, will earn an invitation to compete at the Augusta National Women's Amateur.
Spectators are welcome at Muirfield for tomorrow’s Final and can attend free of charge. The R&A will provide live stream coverage of the Final (plus highlights) on R&ATV and The R&A's YouTube channel, with coverage also broadcast by Sky Sports.