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The Women's Amateur
Paula Martin Sampedro wins The 122nd Women’s Amateur Championship in thrilling Final
15 Jun 25
7 mins
Paula Martin Sampedro of Spain emerged victorious from an absorbing contest with Farah O’Keefe from the United States of America to claim The 122nd Women’s Amateur Championship at Nairn.
In a truly captivating duel of the highest standard, Martin Sampedro won by a narrow 2&1 margin to become the sixth Spanish Champion and the first since Azahara Muñoz in 2009. --- WATCH HIGHLIGHTS AND FULL MATCH REPLAYS ON R&A TV --- As well as etching her name on to a roll of honour of considerable distinction, the 19-year-old from Madrid has secured places in the field of The Amundi Evian Championship and AIG Women’s Open later this summer as well as the Chevron Championship and US Women’s Open in 2026. Martin Sampedro will also, by tradition, receive an invitation to compete in next year’s Augusta National Women's Amateur and will be given the opportunity to play in a Ladies' European Tour event. The spoils of success were richly deserved. Martin Sampedro, ranked number 12 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®), was eight-under-par for the 35 holes it took her to stave off O’Keefe’s spirited challenge in a match that was a wonderful advert for women’s amateur golf and one that provided the large following of spectators with a spectacle to savour. “It honestly doesn't feel real yet,” said the new Champion. “I feel like I played pretty solid golf today but the match was super tight all the way. I knew it was going to come down to the last few holes so I stayed patient and it went my way.” Martin Sampedro, who played in the US Women’s Open recently, was quick to praise the role played by Paula Francisco, her Spanish team-mate who she had on her bag for the semi-finals and Final. “Paula’s the best,” she said. “We played against each other unfortunately in the quarter-finals but I'm super grateful to have had her by my side these past two matches. “She's definitely been key for me. I don't think I would have been able to do this without her, just with the shots and giving me a lot of confidence. I'm just really happy and will be grateful for life.”
Paula Martin Sampedro and her caddie, Paula Francisco, lift the Women's Amateur Championship trophy
O’Keefe and Martin Sampedro, the last two players standing from an original starting field of 144 from over 30 countries, were swiftly into their stride during a delightful morning on the Moray coast.
Over the opening six holes, O’Keefe, the 20-year-old world number eight, and Martin Sampedro traded six birdies in an early period of thrust and counterthrust that set the tone for a terrific encounter.
Both players demonstrated class, control and craft as they conjured a total of ten birdies, 26 pars and no bogeys in a fascinating morning session which finished all-square.
Martin Sampedro was never behind but also never more than one hole ahead while events on the 16th underlined the quality of the tussle.
Leading by a hole at that point, Martin Sampedro’s escape from a greenside bunker was sublime as she splashed out to within two feet of the hole.
O’Keefe responded in style, however, and rolled in a birdie putt from 15 feet with total authority to haul herself back to all-square.
Ahead of the afternoon’s second round, the finalists were piped on to the first tee and Martin Sampedro wasted no time in hitting the high notes herself as a deft dink from the side of the green grazed the hole.
O’Keefe stumbled to the first bogey of the day and the Spaniard was one-up. Her lead was fleeting, however, and having taken three to extricate herself from a bunker on the 21st – it would result in her only bogey of the day - O’Keefe restored parity.
The match remained intriguingly poised but Martin Sampedro made a telling advance when she chipped in for a brilliant birdie on the 24th and followed it up with a birdie putt of 15 feet on the next to move into a two-hole lead.
Paula Martin Sampedro celebrates her chip-in on the 24th hole of the final
O’Keefe, who had been four-down with just five to play in her semi-final, showed her resolve again and a 25-footer for birdie on the 27th reduced the leeway.
A superbly flighted 5-iron into the par-5 28th then came to rest within six feet and, after Martin Sampedro had made her birdie, O’Keefe’s stunning eagle tied the match again.
There would be more twists and turns to come. On the uphill 31st, O’Keefe saw two approaches roll back down the slope and despite limiting the damage to a bogey, Martin Sampedro inched ahead with a par.
O’Keefe’s challenge unravelled on the run-in and her three-footer to halve the 32nd lipped out as Martin Sampedro increased her advantage.
O’Keefe had a glorious opportunity to pinch a hole back at the 33rd but another short putt lipped out and Martin Sampedro moved to the cusp of victory.
Success was sealed on the 35th as the Spaniard calmly putted out for a par to land one of the most prestigious titles in the women’s amateur game.
Despite her defeat, O’Keefe was justifiably proud of the part she played in an enthralling final.
“I'm not sour about it, it's a second-place finish, it's really good,” she said. “I've had a lot of second-place finishes this year. There are two things that you can do. You can get really frustrated and try to force things to happen or rely on your skills and try to get better. My time's coming. I just have to be patient.”