Paula Martin Sampedro of Spain emerged victorious from an absorbing contest with Farah O’Keefe from the United States of America to claim The 122nd Women’s Amateur Championship at Nairn.
In a truly captivating duel of the highest standard, Martin Sampedro won by a narrow 2&1 margin to become the sixth Spanish champion and the first since Azahara Muñoz in 2009.
As well as etching her name on to a roll of honour of considerable distinction, the 19-year-old from Madrid has secured places in the field of The Amundi Evian Championship and AIG Women’s Open later this summer, as well as the Chevron Championship and the US Women’s Open in 2026.
Martin Sampedro will also, by tradition, receive an invitation to compete in next year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur and will be given the opportunity to play in a Ladies’ European Tour event.
The spoils of success were richly deserved. Martin Sampedro, ranked 12th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®), was eight-under-par for the 35 holes it took her to stave off O’Keefe’s spirited challenge. It was a match that was a wonderful advert for women’s amateur golf and one that provided the large following of spectators with a spectacle to savour.
O’Keefe and Martin Sampedro, the last two players standing from a starting field of 144 representing over 30 countries, were swiftly into their stride during a delightful morning on the Moray coast.
Over the opening six holes, O’Keefe, the 20-year-old world number eight, and Martin Sampedro traded six birdies during an early period of back and forward which set the tone for a terrific contest. Both players demonstrated class, control and craft as they conjured a total of ten birdies, 26 pars and no bogeys in a fascinating morning session which finished all-square.
Martin Sampedro was never behind but never more than one-hole ahead while events on the 16th underlined the quality of the tussle. Leading by a hole at that point, Martin Sampedro’s escape from the bunker was sublime as she splashed out to within a foot of the hole. O’Keefe responded in style, however, and rolled in a birdie putt from 15 feet with total authority to haul herself back to all-square.
AFTERNOON ROUND
Ahead of the afternoon round, the finalists were piped on to the 1st tee and Martin Sampedro wasted no time in hitting the high notes herself as a deft chip from the side of the green grazed the hole. O’Keefe stumbled to the first bogey of the day and the Spaniard was one-up.
Her advantage was fleeting, however, and having taken three to extricate herself from a bunker on the 21st – it would lead to her only bogey of the 35 holes contested – O’Keefe restored parity.
The match remained intriguingly poised but Martin Sampedro made a telling advance when she chipped in for a brilliant birdie on the 24th and followed it up with a 15-feet birdie putt on the next to move into a two-hole lead.
O’Keefe, who had been four-down with just five to play in her semi-final yesterday, showed her resolve again and a 25-footer for birdie on the 27th reduced the leeway.
A superbly flighted 5-iron into the 28th came to rest within a couple of feet and, after Martin Sampedro had made her birdie, O’Keefe’s superb eagle tied the match again.
There would be more twists and turns to come. On the uphill 31st, O’Keefe saw two approaches roll back down the slope and despite limiting the damage to a bogey, Martin Sampedro inched ahead with a par. O’Keefe’s challenge unravelled on the run-in and her two-footer to halve the 32nd lipped out as Martin Sampedro increased her advantage.
O’Keefe had a glorious opportunity to claim a hole back at the 33rd but another short putt lipped out and Martin Sampedro moved to the cusp of victory. Success was sealed on the 35th as the Spaniard calmly putted out for a par to land one of the most prestigious titles in the women’s amateur game.
The R&A again provided live stream coverage of the quarter-finals, semi-finals and Final (plus highlights) on www.randa.tv and The R&A’s YouTube channel, with coverage also broadcast by Sky Sports in the UK.
Nairn, founded in 1887, is one of only nine courses to have hosted the Walker Cup, the Curtis Cup, The Amateur and The Women’s Amateur. It staged The Women’s Amateur for just a second time, with the previous occasion coming in 1979 when Northern Ireland’s Maureen Madill prevailed.
For final scoring from The Women’s Amateur Championship, please visit www.randa.org
Muirfield will host The 123rd Women’s Amateur Championship from 22-27 June 2026.
Read the full article here
