Jasmine Mackintosh of Murcar Links Golf Club came out on top after a sudden death playoff with Lorna McClymont (Milngavie Golf Club) to claim the title of 2023 Scottish Women’s Open Champion, on the 50th Anniversary of the championship. McClymont and Mackintosh both posted final scores of 218.
Day one play saw challenging conditions in high winds favour Sweden’s Blondie Persson Lidgren, who posted an early lead at level par, but ultimately it was the champion, who finished day one on top at -3 under to take the lead after a birdie on the 18thhole.
Day two saw calmer conditions and Sweden’s Lova Jansson fired a three under par round of 69 to climb the leaderboard. Just missing out on the cut were Scotland’s Ruby Watt (T61 out of 115), Leah Bryce and Carys Irvine.
Going into the last day’s play, 12 players (5 of them Scots) were within 5 shots of the lead – McClymont dominating with a running score of 144, and Sweden’s Pudas Remler close behind. It looked to be a tight race between McClymont and Pudas Remler, with one shot in it after the iconic Postage Stamp.
By the 14th on the final round, McClymont led by 4 with 4 holes to play, but after a run of bogeys on the 13th, 15th, 17th and 18th, Mackintosh’s resolve and three birdies on the back nine pushed McClymont to a playoff. Mackintosh sealed the title by holing a 12-foot putt, while McClymont’s last unfortunately failed to drop.
Mackintosh continues the Scottish winning streak, after Scot Grace Crawford broke the 20-year drought in 2022.
Champion for 2023, Jasmine Mackintosh, commented:
“[This feels] pretty crazy, to be honest when I teed off this morning I was a bit disappointed from the previous round but I thought I have to keep going and keep playing, and it feels great. Today’s round felt much calmer and cooler and [I was] confident about my game and I think that’s why I played well. In the playoff you have to try and ignore everything that’s going on and play the golf shot that’s in front of you.
On the back nine I played well – I thought if you keep parring the holes you’re not going to make things worse … then the bridie on 12, 15 and 17 brought me back and were essential. I just try and think I’m just here to play a round of golf and what happens at the end, happens – you can’t control what anyone else does, you have to concentrate on your own game.
My birdies on 15 and 17 meant I was feeling good after holing those putts and that was a confidence boost.
Friday was the worst of the weather, but today was so calm – usually when I play Troon it’s a lot crazier than this, so it was a nice change, but you just have to play what’s in front of you.
It’s a great honour to play with lots of top golfers and to see three Scots on the board is a great feeling.
The Helen Holm is a really prestigious event, one of the biggest of the year so it’s a huge honour to have won it. I have really enjoyed these courses, I always think they suit my eye, I have that feeling here.
It’s crazy we’ve had two Scottish winners back-to-back after twenty years, but it’s great to represent Scotland and get us the win. Holing the putt to win was really good, I tried to ignore what it meant and what it was for, and just line up and putt… but seeing it go in was so satisfying.”
Lorna McClymont, 2023 runner up commented:
“I feel ok about today – I played well. A few bogeys at the end, but apart from that, I felt it was pretty solid. Conditions were easier today but that doesn’t make the course any easier. You have to put yourself in the right places, and just be patient. I just had to keep remembering to keep it one shot at a time and enjoy it. It feels good to be part of the winning team.
At the end of the day, I did my best, and you can’t do anything when you get beaten against a birdie. Royal Troon has been good, I always enjoy playing down here at the Portland course they’re great courses and it’s just nice to be here.”
Scotland won the team component of the tournament, with Jennifer Saxton coming in third place, with a score of 220. The 2023 trophy was presented by the original winner of the Helen Holm, 1973 champion Belle Robertson, to mark the 50thanniversary.
The final leaderboard is available to view in full here.
