Toni-Louise tempers her dismay with new record
The 15-year-old’s disgruntlement will have been intensified by the fact that she only failed to make the last 16 after rounds of 76 81 by virtue of having the worst second round of four players who tied on 157.
You will have heard the old expression ‘Don’t get mad, get even’.
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Hide AdToni-Louise took it not one step but three steps further – by going three under par gross in the monthly medal at her club to win with a net 67 off her three handicap.
Her 70 was a new ladies’ gross course record, shaving two shots off the previous mark.
Her outward nine was a model of consistency, eight pars and just one dropped shot.
But a stunning back nine got underway with a birdie at the 441-yard par-5 10th.
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Hide AdThings got better still at hole 12, where she drove to the fringe of the 264-yard par-4 and rolled in the putt for an eagle.
Another birdie, at the 370-yard par-4 14th, dropped her four under par through five holes on the back nine.
However, the Waterton Park ladies champion for the past two years saw birdie putts lip out on holes 16 and 17 and her par-putt at 18 horse-shoed and stayed above ground.
It denied Toni-Louise her first sub-70 round, but it was still the lowest of a young but trophy-laden career that has included her being 2012 UK Kids champion and 2014 US Kids European 14-year-olds champion.
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Hide AdWaterton Park is a long course for ladies at 5,614 yards with standard scratch always 73 or higher.
Her performance and victory – worth 10 Order of Merit points – has put her in much better heart for this Sunday’s Yorkshire girls’ championship at Otley GC, where she is likely to start as one of the favourites for the title.
The title at Huddersfield went to Selby GC’s Megan Garland, former Northern Close champion, who defeated three-time Curtis Cup player Emma Brown (Malton & Norton GC) 3&1 in the final. Newly selected Curtis Cup player Rochelle Morris (Woodsome Hall GC) set a new course record of 68 in qualifying.