Pamela Pretswell takes pride of place in the line-up of prizewinners last Friday at the conclusion of the British women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Tenby GC, South Wales. Image by courtesy of the Ladies Golf Union.

PAMELA A WINNER AT

WHATEVER SHE DOES
 By COLIN FARQUHARSON

New British women’s open amateur stroke-play golf champion Pamela Pretswell makes a habit in succeeding at what she does.
So when she says there's a good chance she will try to get a players' card for the 2012 Ladies European Tour, then you have to think she might well become one of the most successful Scots on the pro circuit since the halcyon days of Gillian Stewart, Muriel Thomson and Jane Connachan.  The 21-year-old Glasgow University student from Hamilton was a top-ranked tennis junior, rubbing shoulders with Andy Murray and Co at the age of 14, and she was also in the Scotland junior badminton squad.
But there was something inside independently-minded Pamela that rebelled against the racquet sports leaving her with precious little time of her own. 
So Pamela walked away from a tennis career that could have seen her develop into Scotland's female equivalent of Andy Murray. She switched to golf. Just like that.
Seven years later she is a Curtis Cup international player and now British champion. From a standing start as a golfer, that is pretty good going up the ladder. 
So what’s next for the young woman who was made an honorary member of Bothwell Castle Golf Club earlier this year?

“I graduate in May 2011 from Glasgow University and I am hoping to go to Ladies European Tour School at the end of 2011 to win my Tour Card, but I will make the decision after I graduate - and after I play in the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Carnoustie, which I am already very excited about!” said Pamela.

A place in the Women’s British Open is one of the perks of winnng the British stroke-play title.

“I am absolutely delighted to have won the British stroke-play and it is fantastic to bring the title home to Scotland - especially following our bronze medal at the European team championships in July,” she said.
“I have had a busy few months’ golf, starting with the Curtis Cup, the British championship, European team championship, European individual championships and then the Austrian women’s mateur (in which she was pipped for the title after leading throughout).

“Playing in these tournaments has given me some amazing experiences and I have certainly learned a lot this summer. I am really grateful for the opportunities the SLGA and the LGU have given me, and for the support Aberdeen Asset Management as SLGA sponsors, Glasgow University , the RandA and the Winning Students scheme have given me."
By the time she has a go at making the grade as a tour pro on the Ladies European Tour, Pretswell expects to be an even better all-round player than she is now.
Remember, she did not start playing golf seriously until seven years ago. On a 10-year learning curve, she could peaks around the age of 24 or 25, by which time she should be on the Ladies European Tour or even the LPGA circuit.  “Over the last few tournaments I have played in, I have felt that my game has become stronger and last week in South Wales , everything just came together for me. Missing out on winning the Austrian amateur by just one shot was majorly disappointing, having led from round 1, but the experience of leading a major tournament has proved invaluable and really helped me throughout the last round at Tenby.

“The Curtis Cup was also another phenomenal experience that will never be forgotten. The experience of playing alongside Danielle McVeigh in the four-ball against America 's top players was fantastic. The standard of golf that was played that week by all 16 players was incredible and I learned a lot from everyone.

“At Tenby, the key to me winning the British stroke-play was probably my ball striking. The weather was pretty horrific most of the time. The wind was just so strong it was important to strike the ball well to hold it up against the wind.

“My course management and club selection were also pretty good. With my dad caddieing, we plotted our way around the course, hitting some irons and woods off the tee when needed bwind was it was so important to keep the ball in play.
“Key hole was probably the 17th in the final round (Pamela and Amy Boulden were joint leaders with two holes to play). There was a really strong wind at this tricky par 3 and I hit my shot of the week with a four-iron to 5 feet and holed the putt for birdie (Boulden bogeyed the hole, producing a decisive two-shot swing in the Scot's favour).”
Pretswell will be back in South Wales in a couple of weeks, spearheading along with Scottish champion Kelsey MacDonald the Scotland effort in the Women’s Home Internationals at Whitchurch Golf Club, Cardiff .

Last year, the Scots had the title all but won at Irvine Golf Club until they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and finished second to Wales .
It could be different this time round.