LAUREN TAYLOR'S THREE-BIRDIE FINISH WINS DUTCH GIRLS' EVENT

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Lauren Taylor, the 16-year-old record-setting British women's open amateur champion from Rugby, has won the Dutch Riverwoods Girls' Open at Golf Club Toxandria Molenschot in the Netherlands with a one-over-par total of 289.
She shot 72, 74, 69 (36-33) and 74, birdieing the 15th, 17th and 18th in her final round to win by three shots from Latvia's Krista Puisite (73-75-72-72).
Lauren fairly spreadeagled the field because third-placed Ariane Provot (France) finished seven shots behind her on 296 with scores of 77, 70, 78 and 71.
Spain's Mandy Goyos, who has an English mother, finished fourth on 298 with rounds of 77, 78, 71 and 72.
There were 50 players in the field for this prestigious, international girls' four-rounder which has been on the go since 1988 and has only once been won by a British player - in 1993 by Curtis Cup and Solheim Cup Scot Janice Moodie, now an LPGA Tour player in America.
The Dutch victory earns Lauren a return trip to the Netherlands to play in the Ladies European Tour event, the Deloitte Ladies Open, in early June 2012.
Whether or not Lauren will be free to accept that invitation is a moot point because the 2012 Curtis Cup match at Nairn Golf Club will be staged from June 8 to 10 next year .... and Lauren's victory at Royal Portrush last month in the "British" has made her a leading contender for a place in skipper Tegwen Matthews' squad of 10 to try to win back the trophy from the Americans.
Lauren's dad, Martin, who caddied for his daughter during her memorable triumph in Northern Ireland, stayed at home this week - and let Lauren do her own thing. And didn't she do well? Remember she is only 16!
"She travelled to Holland with her friend this week, without Jackie (her mother) or myself, so it's great that she is showing signs of independence already!" Martin told Kirkwoodgolf.