SCOT FIONA WINS PRESTIGIOUS USA GIRLS GOLF TITLE

Fiona Liddell with the huge Optimist International trophy in the locker-room at PGA National Golf Club, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

SUPER SCOT FIONA LIDDELL BEATS 

INTERNATIONAL FLORIDA FIELD

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Germany-based Fiona Liddell, 16-year-old recent winner of the Scottish Under-18 girls' match-play golf tournament , has today (TUESDAY) scored a magnificent victory in the Optimist International girls championship - one of the most prestigious junior events in the United States - at the PGA National Resort and Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

 Fiona, whose Falkirk-born father Stephen is a club pro in Germany, led at halfway in the 72-hole event, lost the lead over the third round but rallied on the final day as the new leader faltered to hit the front again and stay there for victory.

If Liddell, who played for GB and I in the Junior Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe at Chantilly, France last year, can keep on improving she must have a chance of making the team for the Curtis Cup match against the Americans at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club, Ireland in 2016.

She scored 73, 69, 78 and 77 for a total of nine-over-par 297 over a tough course and in awful conditions of rain, mist and wind for the last two days.
She won by two shots from Ariadna Fonseca from Caracas, Venezuela.

Underlining the fact that the golf test became more severe as the week wore on is Fiona Liddell's birdie tally. She had nine birdies over the first 36 holes, at which point she had a five-stroke lead. Over the final two rounds, the Scot had only two birdies.

She bogeyed the seventh, eighth, 10th, 14th, 15th and 16th in halves of 37-40 in the final round - and still won by two shots!

Overnight leader Yucan Han from China slumped to a final round of 82 (43-39) for a total of 301 and fourth place. She had two early double bogeys 
This is not Fiona Liddell's first win in America. She won the Honda Junior Class girls title in Florida last December.

FLORIDA REPORT FROM STEPHEN LIDDELL:
"Yes, the weather did get wild! Fiona shot third-round 78 against a CSS of 83.2 and a fourth-round 77 when the CSS was 77.4.
"She played a brilliant second round of 69 - best she has ever played. Blew the field apart!
I am at the moment  löst for words. Her 78-77 in these condition and under competitive pressure was was sensational. Pure class.

Her win ration is becoming exciting - Four wins in only 12 starts!

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)

297 Fiona Liddell (Scotland) 73 69 78 77

299 Ariadna Fonseca (Venezuela) 73 74 75 77

300 Chloe Verasco (Texas, USA) 74 77 72 77

301 Yucan Han (China) 73 75 71 82

302 Kelsey Zeng (Florida, USA) 77 77 75 73, Taylor Dobson (Oklahoma) 73 76 77 76

    An indication of how bad the Florida weather became for the Optimist International girls championship ... but Fiona Liddell coped with it admirably. Picture from Stephen Liddell.