Sweden’s Linn Grant ignited her Junior Solheim Cup hopes by easing to a five-shot success in the Helen Holm Women’s Scottish Open, as Shannon McWilliam continued her form to claim second.
Grant, 17, whose grandfather, James, hailed from Inverness, stood firm over the final 18 holes at Royal Troon to post a closing level par 72 and claim her biggest win in the game.
No stranger to Scottish soil having competed in last year’s Ladies British Open Amateur Championship, Grant enjoyed the ‘fun’ test in Ayrshire to post a seven-under-par total over the 54 holes. Her week’s work was highlighted by a superb 66 over Troon Portland on Saturday.
Aboyne’s McWilliam continued her form to finish runner-up on two under par, building on her share for second spot with England’s Hollie Muse at last week’s Scottish Girls’ Open at Montrose.
McWilliam closed with a 75, finishing two strokes clear of five players tied for third place on level par, again the in-form Muse from West Lancashire, Irish pair Annabel Wilson and Chloe Ryan, Swede Amanda Linner and first-round leader from Germany, Alexandra Forsterling.
Grant picked up valuable Junior Solheim Cup points, as she seeks to qualify for the 2017 event at Des Moines Golf & Country Club in Iwoa.
“I’m very pleased, absolutely,” said the Helsingborg teenager, who plays out of Rya GC. “I would say this is my biggest win in the game now, building on my win in a junior event in Doral over the winter. I just tried to play my game and not get too excited, stay relaxed and do my thing.
“I’d played in Scotland before, played the British Amateur before. I like it kind of windy, it’s fun. Playing in the Junior Solheim Cup this year is my goal for sure, to compete in the event in America.”
McWilliam added: “I’m happy, but annoyed, in a way. I had two double bogeys at the 7th and the 15th and it was hard to get that back. It’s maybe one that got away, but Linn had two doubles as well so it’s just golf for you.”
The next best home player was Hannah McCook from Grantown on Spey in a tie for ninth on two over.
One of the most hotly anticipated events each year in GB&I, the Helen Holm is the most prestigious women’s competition on the domestic calendar. Scottish Golf received a record 158 entries for the event in its current form, with the ballot one of the lowest ever at 0.5.
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