Melanie Green had a successful debut at the Women’s Amateur Championship, securing a two-hole victory over Scotland’s Lorna McClymont in a thrilling final at Portmarnock. The 22-year-old American, who is the first from her country to win the prestigious title since 1996, showed her love for links golf by coming back from a four-hole deficit after eight holes to win the 36-hole contest on a rainy day in Ireland.
McClymont initially took the lead with three holes to play, but Green displayed remarkable resilience to fight back and ultimately clinched victory with a 22-foot birdie putt on the last hole.
Although McClymont, with her mom as her caddie, started strong in the tough conditions, Green struggled early on, falling behind by three holes at the 6th. However, she gradually improved and managed to level the match after the 14th hole, eventually taking a one-up lead into the lunchtime break.
Green extended her lead to two holes after McClymont encountered trouble at the 21st hole. Despite some back-and-forth play, Green maintained a three-hole advantage after McClymont’s bogey at the 24th. McClymont fought back with a win at the 25th and a birdie at the 28th, narrowing the gap to just one hole again. The match remained close, with both players having opportunities to take control, but it was Green’s decisive birdie on the final hole that secured her victory.
The win not only earned Green the Women’s Amateur Championship title but also guaranteed her spots in several major championships in the upcoming years, including the Evian Championship, AIG Women’s Open, Chevron Championship, and US Women’s Open. Additionally, as the 53rd ranked player on the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking, Green will receive an invitation to compete in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur next year.
