Stephanie Meadow credits US training following Carnoustie victory

By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Published on 02/07/2012 00:44

STEPHANIE Meadow may have cut her golfing teeth at Royal Portrush but that wasn’t the biggest factor in helping her become the new British Ladies’ Amateur champion at Carnoustie.

According to the 20-year-old, a bold decision by her parents to up sticks to America about five years ago was the catalyst for her career taking off.

“I wouldn’t be sitting here now if it wasn’t for that,” said Meadow after her 4 and 3 win over Spaniard Rocio Sanchez Lobato in Saturday’s 18-hole final.

“I was lucky that my parents had the opportunity to do it as I’ve learned so much over there. I’ve worked with three or four different coaches, including Hank Haney, and I’ve seen it all.”

Meadow’s victory completed the Amateur double for Portrush after Alan Dunbar claimed the men’s equivalent at Royal Troon seven days earlier.

It was also the second time in three weeks that she had something to celebrate on Scottish soil, having been Great Britain & Ireland’s last-game heroine in the Curtis Cup triumph at Nairn.

“That was more exhilirating as, playing for a team, it was great to have everyone run on to the green after I’d won my singles match,” she reflected. “But it is also great to pull off a win like this for yourself and it’s great that I have now secured a place in the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Hoylake in September.”

Meadow was always in the driving seat in the title showdown after covering the first four holes in two-under to be three up on Lobato.