Hannah Darling takes Scottish Girls Open title with wire-to-wire domination

Lothians star Hannah Darling completed a brilliant double by rounding off a wire-to-wire win in the Scottish Girls’ Open at St Andrews.
Hannah Darling shows off her Scottish Girls Open title. Pic: TSPLHannah Darling shows off her Scottish Girls Open title. Pic: TSPL
Hannah Darling shows off her Scottish Girls Open title. Pic: TSPL

The 15-year-old Broomieknowe member stormed to a six-shot success in the 54-hole event after finishing with a four-under-par 209 total.

The triumph, which was sealed by a closing 71 on the Eden Course, followed her successful defence of the Scottish Girls’ Championship at Moray last summer.

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“I was really steady out there today,” said Darling, who also won the inaugural Under-16 Girls’ Open at Fulford last year.

“I went on a bit of a par run, but I stuck to my gameplan and I’m just really happy to come away with the win.”

She was able to share the victory with her parents, adding: “It’s the first time that they have both been here to see me win a national title.”

Darling now turns her attention to the Helen Holm Trophy at Troon – a counting event for the Junior Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in September. “Next week’s event is a women’s event but I’m ready to take on the challenge,” she added.

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Over in Ayrshire, there was a Welsh win in the Scottish Boys’ Open as James Ashfield capitalised on a dramatic collapse from Ireland’s Eoin Sullivan on the back nine.

Sullivan looked to be in control after carding a four-under-par 67 to take a one-shot lead into his final round before going three-under-par through three holes on the closing circuit.

However, he then limped home in seven-over, opening the door for Ashfield to claim the title by two shots with a seven-under-par 277 total.

Blairgowrie’s Gregor Graham signed off with a 68 to finish joint-second alongside Sullivan and Finland’s Sarkke Siltala.

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Graham picked up the George Mcdonald Memorial Bowl as the top under-16 player, saying: “It feels absolutely amazing to be able to win something in your home country, you can’t get much better than that.”