UNDERDOG BEATS FRENCH FAVOURITE IN FINAL AT GULLANE''

New British girls open amateur champion Margaux Vanmol (left) and beaten finalist Celine Boutier (France). Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

BELGIUM’S MARGAUX VANMOL, HAMMER

OF THE BRITS, IS NEW GIRLS' CHAMPION

By COLIN FARQUHARSONColin@scottishgolfview.com

Margaux Vanmol from Brussels beat the odds to become the new British girls’ open amateur golf champion over the Gullane No 1 course today.

She beat the French favourite, Celine Boutier from Paris, by one hole in a final that was quick and quality golf.

Vanmol was two under par, Boutier one under and they played at a cracking pace. They reached the turn in 90 minutes and completed the 18 holes in 3hr 10min.

Both players are 17 years of age but Celine was the No 2 seed while Margaux was 44^th of the 64 qalifiers for the match-play stages.

Boutier is No 17 in the European Golf Association’s women's amateur rankings while Vanmol is No 64.

But Margaux came to Scotland full of confidence, having won the Belgian women’s amateur match-play championship only a week or two ago.

“I like match-play golf and I have enjoyed this week very much. I knew Celine was the favourite but I always thought I could win,” said the willow Belgian six-footer who was playing in the championship for the third time but making her golfing debut in Scotland. She is young enough to be able to defend the title at Tenby, South Wales next year.

Three years ago, when the British championship was played at Monifieth, it was also won by a player from Belgium, Laura Gonzalez-Escallon who is now at college in America.

“I have not made up my mind about going to a university in the United States, not yet,” said Margaux who was the hammer of the Brits over the Gullane week.

She beat England’s Alexandra Peters, Bronte Law, Sophie Godley and George Hall, as well as Scotland’s Alyson McKechin to get to the final.

There was never more than a hole in it until Vanmol went two up at the 15^th. Boutier, bidding to become the third French player in a row to win the title, kept her hopes alive by winning the 16^th but Vanmol, matchplayer magnifique, closed her out with halves at the 17^th and 18^th.

TODAY’S RESULTS

Semi-finals

Margaux Vanmol (Belgium) bt Georgia Hall (Remedy Oak, Dorset) 3 and 2.

Celine Boutier (France) bt Emma Nilsson (Sweden) 3 and 1.

Final

Vanmol bt Boutier 1 hole.