Double celebration as Gemma Dryburgh wins latest Rose Ladies Series event

Victory at The Buckinghamshire comes on parents' wedding anniversary

A happy Gemma Dryburgh shows off her trophy after a one-shot success at The Buckinghamshire

Gemma Dryburgh set up a double family celebration as she won the latest Rose Ladies Series event, beating a star-studded field at The Buckinghamshire.

The 27-year-old Scot stormed home in four-under-par as she recovered from a poor start to card a three-under 69, winning by a shot from English pair Georgia Hall and Cara Gainer.

Dryburgh's success came on the same day her parents celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary and her dad John was on caddying duties.

"I'm very happy and there will be lots of drinks tonight," admitted Dryburgh, who was born in Aberdeen but now lives at Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire.

The victory, worth £5,000, lifted Dryburgh to second spot in the order of merit for the series, which was set up by Justin Rose and his wife Kate in a bid to provide playing opportunties for female professionals as circuits remain in lockdown due to the coronavirus crisis.

Dryburgh had tied for seventh behind Charley Hull in the first event at Brokenhurst Manor a fortnight ago then finished fourth as Meghan MacLaren won last week's event at Moor Park.

Hull and MacLaren were also in this line up, as well as Hall, who played on the same Curtis Cup team as Dryburgh in 2014, and also Bronte Law.

English trio Hall, Hull and Law were all on Catriona Matthew's triumphant European team in last year's Solheim Cup at Gleneagles.

"It is definitely the best win of my pro career as the only other one before was on the ALPG Tour," said Dryburgh of a success in the 2017 Oatlands Ladies Pro-Am in Australia.

"It was a good field today and great exposure for the women's game."

Dryburgh, who held a full card for the LPGA for two seasons after coming through the School for the US circuit, was two-over after three and still one-over at the turn before reeling off birdies at the tenth, 13th, 14th and 16th to come home in 32.

"I didn't have a very good start but then slam-dunked my third shot at the tenth after being in the bunker - that was a good start to the back nine," she said.

"I then made some a few more birdies before holing a reasonable putt, probably around 18 feet, at 17 for par.

"I saw people following me and, on 18, my dad said I had two putts for it. It was a really good back nine."

Dryburgh can only play in one more event in the series - next week's visit to Royal St George's - before turning her attention to the LPGA Tour.

"I've got conditional card but I am getting into first two events and I'm waiting to hear if I am in the Women's British Open," she said of the R&A major, which is scheduled to take place at Royal Troon in August.

Hall, the 2018 Women's Open champion, birdied made three birdies in four holes before dropping a shot at the last in the first of six scheduled appearances on the circuit.

Hull shared fourth spot on 71 with former Helen Holm Trophy winner Amy Boulden, as well as Annabel Dimmock and amateur Lily May Humphreys.

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