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The Women's Amateur
Darling eyes silver lining in Women’s Amateur Championship at Nairn
09 Jun 25
6 mins
Hannah Darling is hoping to put a silver lining on her swansong in the unpaid game as the Scot prepares to mount her assault on The Women’s Amateur Championship title at Nairn.
The 21-year-old from Bonnyrigg recently graduated from the University of South Carolina and is preparing for a new chapter in her blossoming career by turning professional later this season. Darling is set to make her final appearance in the Women’s Amateur and is determined to finish with a flourish. The Curtis Cup player reached the semi-finals in 2021 and 2022 and, on both occasions, she was ousted by the eventual champions, namely Louise Duncan and Jess Baker.Expectation
“Having been close before there is added determination to go that bit further, especially as this will probably be my last Women’s Amateur Championship,” said Darling. “In saying that, I don’t want to put too much pressure and expectation on myself because of that. I want to enjoy it first and foremost. After those semi-final defeats, you do walk away and think, ‘if only I’d done this or that’. But that’s golf.”
Hannah Darling reached the semi-final stage in 2022.
Since becoming the youngest player to win the Scottish Girls’ Amateur Championship at the age of just 13 in 2017, Darling has enjoyed a glory-laden progression.
Her success in The R&A’s inaugural Girls’ Under-16 Amateur Championship the following year underlined her talents, and she would go on to become a mainstay of the GB&I Curtis Cup team with three appearances in the biennial transatlantic tussle.
New to Nairn
With two victories on the highly-competitive US college scene, Darling, who is currently 18th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®), is eager for more success over the majestic Nairn links, which is hosting the Championship for the first time since 1979. “I’ve never actually played at Nairn before but links golf is how I really fell in love with the game,” added Darling. “I may have a little bit of a target on my back this week but that’s all part of the game. “The times in my career when I have faced pressure, I’ve stood up to it and handled it. That gives me confidence and belief. The true test of golf comes in these high-pressure moments. The best players embrace it and I like to think I’m good at that. “But, as we all know, anything can happen in match play golf and that’s why it’s such a great format. The underdogs always have a chance and we see that in Ryder Cups, Solheim Cups or Curtis Cups.”Fresh challenges
Darling’s four-year stint at University in the USA has flown by and she is now looking forward to continuing her golfing education in the cut-and-thrust of the professional scene. “I went out there as a kid which everyone does, but I’ve really matured and grown as a person over the past few years,” admitted Darling. “I think it’s really prepared me for the next stage of my career.”
Darling during the Women's Amateur Championship in 2024.
Her amateur career, meanwhile, has been one full of magical moments and memories both individually and collectively. The thrilling victory that GB&I conjured in last year’s Curtis Cup, under the shrewd and inspiring captaincy of Catriona Matthew OBE, was an undoubted highlight.
“It was simply awesome,” reflected Darling, who pitched in with three points out of four as GB&I battled to a famous 10½ - 9½ victory at Sunningdale. “I was surrounded by great players and an amazing captain and backroom team. I couldn’t have asked for a better Curtis Cup to finish on.
“In lots of ways, I’ll miss all that. Even finishing college was quite emotional. The years just flew by and I was part of a special team out there too. But I now have some very exciting times coming and a new chapter in my career as I look to turn professional.”