Cowley grabs glory after tense finale

SCOTTISH UNDER-16 GIRLS STROKEPLAY: England’s Under-15 champion Gabriella Cowley from West Essex won the Scottish Under-16 girls’ open amateur stroke-play golf championship in an exciting finish at Strathmore Golf Centre, Alyth.

With overnight leader Camilla Mortiglieno (Italy) slumping from a par 72 to a 79 for 151, the title was up for grabs. Cowley, a playing partner of Mortiglieno, got two birdies at par-5 holes on the inward half, the 12th and 14th, and posted a repeat 73 for a two-over-par aggregate of 146. Another Italian, Ludovica Farina was level with Cowley with three holes to play, but she bogeyed the 18th for a 73 and a total of 147, one shot from forcing a play-off.

The round of the day came from the leading Anglo-Scot, Nicola Callender (Mill Green). Making a 12-shot improvement on her first round, Callender shot a brilliant four-under-par 68 for an aggregate of 148 to surge up through the field into third.

Two more Scots figured in a tie with England’s Alice Hewson for fourth place on 150 – Germany-based Fiona Little (73-77) and St Andrews’ Lauren Whyte (St Regulus) 76-74).

Italy won the team title with 294 with Scotland 1 in second place on 298 and England 1 third on 300. The Scots were Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies), Clara Young (North Berwick) and Lauren Whyte.