ABERDEEN GIRL PIPPED A BIRDIE AT THE LAST FOR TITLE IN COLOMBIA

GEMMA DRYBURGH FINISHES SECOND
IN SOUTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Gemma Dryburgh ... boosted Curtis Cup selection hopes. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Aberdeen-born Gemma Dryburgh, sharing the lead with one round to go, was pipped for the South American women's open amateur championship at Barranquilla Golf Club, Colombia today.
Gemma finished the 72-hole tournament, played in a constant wind, sometimes averaging over 30mph, with scores of 73, 77, 76 and 75 for a total of 301
With bogeys at the 14th and 15th, she was caught over the closing holes by Peru's Lucia Gutierrez who made up three strokes on the Scot, a student at Tulane University, New Orleans, over the final 18 holes.
The Peruvian had scores of 77, 79, 72 and 72 for 300 to win the prestigious tournament, generously funded by the R and A who are keen to raise its status to one of the world's leading amateur tournaments for women.
Gemma, runner-up in the British women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Prestwick, will have gained some more World Amateur Ranking points to boost her claim for a place in the GB and I team for the defence of the Curtis Cup at St Louis, Missouri in June.
John Dryburgh, Gemma's dad, comments:
"Ultimately Gemma's poor finish on Friday evening cost her and opened the door to the others. She was still two strokes ahead going into the 14th  but bogeys at the 14th and 15th left her level with the Peruvian girl, playing in the match ahead . 
"Lucia Gutierrez then managed to birdie the last, leaving Gemma needing to match her to force a play-off.
"Unfortunately she wasn't aware of that and played the last conservatively and parred it, leaving her one short of the Peruvian player.
"Gemma was happy with her week's work but disappointed not to win, especially when, unusually, there were no prizes at all for second and third places!
"On the positive side,  come Wednesday, when the world rankings are updated, Gemma will have cut the gap to just a few points in the race for the automatic qualification spots for the Curtis Cup and that's the prize she most wants this year."
Ireland's young Chloe Ryan finished on 313, a shot ahead of St Andrews student Gemma Bradbury who is a full Wales international.
Scottish champion Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) never settled in the windy conditions and shot 78, 86, 80 and 79 for joint 23rd place on 323, the same aggregate as Ireland's Jessica Carty.
Jessica Evans (Wales) finished with her best score 
a 77 for a 326 total


SOUTH AMERICAN WOMNEN'S OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Barranquilla Golf Club, Colombia
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
300 Lucia Gutierrez (Peru) 77 79 72 72
301 Gemma Dryburgh (Scotland) 73 77 76 75
303 Oona Vartianen (Finland) 75 75 76 77
304 Laura Sojo (Colombia) 75 81 77 71
305 Cynthia Diaz (Colombia) 72 84 77 72
SELECTED TOTALS
313 Chloe Ryan (Ireland) 77 86 75 75
314 Gemma Bradbury (Wales) 81 78 78 77 (15th)
323 Alyson McKechin (Scotland) 78 86 80 79, Jessica Carty (Ireland) 81 85 79 78 (T23)
326 Jessica Evans (Wales) 83 86 80 77.
Field of 50 players.