Aline Krauter of Germany, who plays at Stanford, rallied to win the 117th British Women’s Amateur Championship, 1 up, over Annabel Fuller of England in the match-play final at West Lancashire Golf Club in Liverpool, England.
The 20-year-old Krauter’s victory came several days after Sophia Popov of Germany and USC captured the AIG Women’s Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club in Troon, Scotland.
By winning, Krauter earned exemptions into the 2021 AIG Women’s Open, the U.S. Women’s Open, the Evian Championship, and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
“I’m now so excited to play in the AIG Women’s Open,” said Krauter, who is a junior at Stanford. “I’m honored. I watched Sophia win last week; it was amazing. I had a club- fitting with her in February before COVID-19 when everything was fine. To play in the event next year at Carnoustie will be amazing.
“ … I was three down early, but I didn’t panic. It was a rough start, but I knew that I had my game and I had played well all week. I wasn’t really worried at that time. I made a great putt from off the green on the ninth which was good.”
Fuller, who won the English Women’s Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship a week earlier, took three of the first four holes before Krauter bounced back by winning the fifth and sixth holes with birdies.
Then Krauter took control by winning the eighth, nine and 10 holes, giving her wins on five of six holes, to take a 2-up lead and Fuller never caught up, although she did make a charge of her own down the stretch.
Krauter build her lead to 3-up lead by winning the par-3 12th with a par, but Fuller got close by winning the 16th with a birdie and the 17th with a par, sending the match the No. 18 with Krauter holding a 1-up lead.
Settling down, Krauter finished things off with a two-putt par.
“I hit a bad shot on the 16th and the 17th wasn’t great, as I had a bad lie in the bunker,” Krauter said. “But on the 18th I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared for a two-putt. It ended up working out.”
In the semifinals, Krauter defeated defending champion Emily Toy of England, 2 and 1, while Fuller routed Emilie Alba Paltrinieri of Italy, 5 and 4.
Previous winners of the British Women’s Amateur include Babe Zaharias, Louise Suggs, Carol Semple, Kelli Kuehne, Belen Mozo, Carlota Ciganda, Anna Nordqvist, Azahara Muñoz, Stephanie Meadow, Georgia Hall, Céline Boutier and Leona Maguire.
For complete results, visit https://origin-www.randa.org/en/championships/thewomensamateurchampionship/mp-leaderboard#/competition/2377512/matchplay
