Pamela Pretswell in action at the Austrian women's amateur championship

PAMELA PRETSWELL PIPPED FOR AUSTRIAN TITLE

Curtis Cup Scot Pamela Pretswell was pipped on the post for victory in the Austrian women's amateur golf championship at Murhof Golf Club today.
The Glasgow University student and Bothwell Castle GC member, who won the Swiss women's open amateur title a couple of years ago, looked on course for another victory on the continent when she opened the 72-hole tournament with a nine-birdie round of six-under-par 66.
She was still leading the international field by one shot going into the final round but was caught over the last two holes by Klara Spilkova (Czech Republic) who birdied six of the last 11 holes for a 66 and a 10-under-par total of 278.
Pretswell, in her final round, bogeyed the eighth, birdied the 10th and 12th ... but had to settle for pars at the last six holes. She finished with a 71 for nine-under 279.
Leading final totals:
278 Klara Spilkova (Czech Rep) 71 70 71 66.
279 Pamela Pretswell (Sco) 66 72 70 71.
280 Sarah Schober (Aut) 71 71 68 70.
282 Tereza Vavruskova (Czech Rep) 73 69 67 73.

Pamela Pretswell E-mails the news to Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

This week I have been playing in the Austrian Ladies International Championship at Murhof Golf Club [www.murhof.at], the venue for next year's European Ladies Team Championship.
I took the opportunity to play in this European Ladies ranking event by flying directly from the International European Ladies' Amateur Championship at Golf and Spa Resort Kunetickà Hora in the Czech Republic, where I finished in sixth place with a 72 hole score of three under par.
I am really grateful for the support provided by the Scottish Ladies Golf Association and our sponsors Aberdeen Asset Management which allowed me to play in these events.
I finished runner-up in this 72 hole championship with a final total of 9 under par. I scored a 6 under 66 in the first round, including nine birdies, to lead the championship and followed that up with a par 72 and a 2 under 70 on Saturday to lead by one shot at eight under going into the final 18 holes today.
I shot a one-under-par round of 71 today, including two birdies, for a nine-under-par total of 279. Unfortunately, this was one shot more than winner Klara Spilkova (Czech Republic) who started in fourth place today and played in the group in front of me. Klara shot a six under 66 with six birdies over the final 13 holes, including birdies at 17 and 18 to finish one ahead of me on 278.
Although it was disappointing to be pipped at the post after leading throughout the championship, I have been delighted with the way that I have been playing during the last few weeks. I am starting to benefit from playing more regularly now that I have a summer break from my studies at Glasgow University and really pleased to score 12 under in my last 8 rounds.
Looking forward to the rest of my season and to playing the Murhof course again with the Scottish Ladies team at the European Team Championship next year - and perhaps doing even better than the fantastic bronze medal that we won at La Manga, Spain in July.

Pamela Pretswell