Crump Crowned Champion
Lauren Crump produced a birdie when it mattered most in her final round of 71 (-2) to clinch a one-shot win over Ellie Lichtenhein in the English Girls’ Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Royal Norwich.
After placing it close to the pin on the par-3 17th, the Hill Valley golfer rolled in a clutch birdie putt, which ultimately sealed the victory after the scores were tied on -2 through 16 holes.
It was set up for a tense finish, but Crump, who just turned 15 earlier this month, held her composure to par the last to end on -3 for the tournament and claim the title by a single shot.
She said: “It’s a massive win, it’s unbelievable really! I’ve only just turned 15, so to win this is just absolutely incredible!
“I holed a lot more putts than I think I’ve ever done before, my putting was just incredible! I just tried to play my steady game, hit greens, two-putt and aim for one or two-under par.”
A Battle to the Finish
Lichtenhein’s final round effort of 70 (-3), which included a bogey-free back-nine, saw her push Crump all the way. However, her challenge fell just short as she finished 2nd on -2, ahead of Sadie Adams (level-par) in 3rd.
There was drizzle in the air as the final day started, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of the 40 golfers in the field.
Adams led by one coming into Thursday, but at the end of round three, it was Crump who had jumped to the top of the leaderboard as the only player to shoot under-par in the morning, a round of 72 (-1).
As the fourth and final round got underway, it was Crump on -1, Lichtenhein two shots behind on +1, and Lynn van der Sluijs (+3) in 3rd, as Adams slipped back to +4 after a difficult morning.
Soon enough, Crump moved to -3 to extend her lead to three shots over Lichtenhein through nine holes, but Lichtenhein kept applying the pressure as they made the turn.
Birdies on 12 and 15 saw the Buckinghamshire golfer pick up shots and reduce the gap, and she was soon level on -2 with Crump after the Hill Valley golfer had a bogey on 15.
Both players went on to par the 16th, before the difference-maker came on 17.
While Lichtenhein could only par, Crump, who struggled on that hole all week, managed to stick it on the green and putt for birdie to take a one-shot lead down the last.
Lichtenhein knew she had to at least birdie to force a play-off but could only muster a par, her only hope being that Crump would bogey the par-5 18th.
However, the 15-year-old remained calm to reach the green in three and two-putt for par to seal the win.
She added: “The last couple of days, I struggled to hit the green on that hole [17th], but in the last round, something just twigged. I hit the green and knew I had to roll it in, and I did!
“I knew then that all I needed was a par or maybe a birdie on the last.”
It was double delight for Crump, who was also awarded the Hazards Salver as the leading player from Great Britain and Ireland under the age of 16.
Standout Performances
After enduring a tough morning, Adams bounced back in the afternoon to secure 3rd spot thanks to a week’s best score of 69 (-4) in the final round, with an incredible rally of five birdies in the last nine holes.
Fellow England Girls’ Squad player Matilde Santilli (Foxhills), Elizabeth Wilson (Norwood Park), and Grace Crawford (Scotland) were tied-4th on +6.
Lila Bisset (Northamptonshire County), Lulu Leetham (Buckingham), Van Der Sluijs (The Netherlands), and Isabella Taylor-Stokes (Gloria Hotels & Resort) rounded out the top 10.
