SHANNON MCWILLIAM'S EARNS HER 2ND PLACE

FROM COLIN FARQUHARSON

Hannah Kang with some of her German compatriots

Shannon McWilliam finishes with a 67 to share 2nd place in U18 girls' open stroke play

Shannon McWilliam

Aboyne teenager Shannon McWilliam recaptured the form that gained her GB and I Junior Vagliano Trophy team honours with a brilliant final round of six-under-par 67 at Montrose Links today (Friday) to finish second in the Scottish Under-18 girls' open stroke play championship.

Shannon, pictured, whose earlier rounds were 79 and 71, tied with England's Hollie Muse (West Lancs) on two-under-par 217 but was officially placed second in the prize list because she had a better final round than Hollie.

The outstanding winner by an astonishing 10-stroke margin from McWilliam and Muse was Germany's 17-year-old Hannah Karg who hits the ball a mile and signed off with a 69 for a brilliant aggregate of 12-under-par 207 over a testing Montrose Links course.

Karg said it was her biggest victory in an open tournament and it has to be said that she looked different class. She is certainly a name to remember because she looks destined to become a tour pro with her sights set on the LPGA Tour.

In all, Hannah had 17 birdies and two eagles across the 54 holes for her 12 under par total, helped by a course record-equalling 66 on Thursday.

“I’m really pleased with my score, it was really great,” said Karg, who travelled with a number of her national team-mates. “I won the German Under-16 stroke-play championship, but this tournament is my biggest win. I played really, really well to shoot 66 on Thursday and every day under par is a great week overall for me.

“I’ve played in Scotland before, played in the Scottish Girls’ Open back in 2014 and other events, so I felt comfortable at Montrose. I want to go to the LPGA Tour one day, so maybe this is a good start for me to achieving that goal.”

Shannon McWilliam said after collecting second prize:

“It wasn’t my best start in round one (79), but I felt I could come back and post under par rounds,” said McWilliam.

“I wanted to win this week, as it’s my last year as a junior. I also know the course well, as I come down every winter and play here, but the first round just didn’t help. It was very impressive scoring from Hannah and well played to her.”

In the second round, Karg equalled Kylie Walker's 2008 record of 66, set in 2008, and McWilliam was only one shot above with a final round that started on a low note with a bogey at the second but then took off with birdies at the fifth, seventh and ninth to reach the turn in two-under 34.
Shannon maintained her great run with another birdie at the 13th, followed by an eagle 3 at the 14th and a fifth birdie at the 18th to come home in four-under 33 for a 67 over the testing Montrose Links.

Jillian Farrell (Cardross), leading Scot overnight, finished tied fifth on 221 with rounds of 73, 74 and 74.

Hazlehead's Jasmine Mackintosh finished 28th on 231 with rounds of 78 81 and 72.

SCOTTISH UNDER 18 GIRLS OPEN STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Montrose Links
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 219 (3x73). SSS 73. CSS 75 73 73

207 H Krag (Ger) 72 66 69\
217 S McWilliam (Aboyne) 79 71 67, H Muse (West Lancs) 73 74 70
219 M Lewis (St George's Hill) 75 70 74.
221 H Screen (Berkhamsted) 73 77 71, A Rutter (Ger) 73 74 74, J Farrell (Cardross) 73 74 74.

OTHER SCOTS' TOTALS
227 K Brodie (Strathmore) 72 77 78 (T15)
231 J Mackintosh (Hazlehead) 78 81 72 (28th)
233 J Rankine (Haggs Castle) 81 82 70, L McClymont (Milngavie) 80 78 75 (T34)
234 L Duncan (West Kilbride) 80 75 79 (T39).
235 M Richmond (Strathmore) 82 76 77, C Griffiths (Aboyne) 82 74 79 (T44).
236 E Hynd (Balbirnie Park) 80 80 78 (T49)
240 H Darling (Broomieknowe) 82 78 80, K K Brown (Strathaven) 81 76 83, A McKay (Crail GS) 80 78 82 (T85).