Paula Martin Sampedro (Royal and Ancient Photo)

The British Women’s Amateur Championship is among the most prestigious titles in amateur golf and serves as the UK counterpart to the U.S. Women's Amateur. First held in 1893, it boasts past winners like Georgia Hall, Anna Nordqvist, Céline Boutier, and Leona Maguire.

Sunday Final Recap

Spain’s Paula Martin Sampedro emerged as the 2025 Women’s Amateur Champion, defeating the United States’ Farah O’Keefe 2&1 in a thrilling 36-hole final at Nairn Golf Club to become the event’s sixth Spanish winner, and the first since Azahara Muñoz in 2009.

The final was a battle between two of the best amateurs in the world: Martin Sampedro entered the week ranked No. 12 in WAGR, while O’Keefe, a standout from Texas, held the No. 8 spot. They traded ten birdies and no bogeys in a flawless morning session that ended all square after O’Keefe rolled in a 15-footer on 16 to match Martin Sampedro’s masterful bunker escape. Throughout the day, the match stayed tight, with Martin Sampedro never trailing and never more than two up.

In the afternoon round, the Spaniard chipped in for birdie on the 24th hole and followed with a 15-foot birdie at the 25th to take a 2-up advantage. O’Keefe, who had delivered one of the week’s signature moments with a dramatic semifinal comeback against Canada’s Tillie Claggett, responded in kind. She dropped a 25-foot birdie on 27 and then stiffed a 5-iron on the par-5 28th to set up eagle and tie the match once again.

But Martin Sampedro steadied herself when it mattered most. She regained the lead on the 31st as O’Keefe’s approaches failed to hold the slope, then moved two up at the 32nd after a short miss from her opponent. A final par on the 35th hole sealed her place in history and secured exemptions into the AIG Women’s Open, Amundi Evian Championship, Chevron Championship, U.S. Women’s Open, and an invite to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

This victory marks the culmination of a steady rise at the Women’s Amateur Championship for Martin Sampedro, who reached the Round of 32 in 2023, advanced to the final 16 in 2024, and completed her ascent with the title in 2025.

For Martin Sampedro, this title is the latest and most prestigious accolade in an amateur career that has steadily placed her among the world’s elite. A former winner of the Spanish Women’s International Stroke Play (2021) and the Spanish Women’s Amateur (2022), she has been a fixture at the top of both collegiate and international leaderboards. 

In the past two seasons, she’s notched top finishes at the NCAA Women’s Championship (3rd in 2024, 4th in 2025), claimed multiple collegiate wins, including the Meadow Club Women’s Intercollegiate and the Molly Collegiate Invitational, and qualified for the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open. A consistent top-10 presence in the WAGR and Player-of-the-Year rankings, her win at Nairn validates years of high-level play and positions her as one of Europe’s brightest hopes heading into a packed summer of major championship starts.

Both finalists had survived major tests to reach Sunday. O’Keefe barely escaped the quarterfinals with a 1-up win over Denmark’s Marie Eline Madsen, then pulled off one of the most improbable turnarounds in championship memory, coming back from 4 down with five to play against Claggett to win on the 19th. Martin Sampedro held steady throughout Saturday, defeating compatriot Paula Francisco 3&2 in the quarters before calmly dispatching Italy’s Caterina Don by the same score in the semis.

Earlier in the week, the field of 144 from more than 30 countries was whittled down during two rounds of stroke play and a grueling match-play bracket. Jasmine Koo of the U.S. earned medalist honors with a 6-under finish, including a walk-off eagle at the par-5 18th. Madsen opened with a 66 to lead after day one and continued her strong form into match play. Notable early exits included world No. 7 Catherine Park and top seed Koo, who was eliminated in the Round of 32 after Paula Francisco mounted a furious comeback from 4 down to win in extra holes.

Among the breakout names were India’s Mannat Brar, who notched two separate multi-hole comebacks and took Francisco to the wire in the Round of 16, and England’s Isla McDonald-O’Brien, who defeated Park and made a run to the quarters. Marie Eline Madsen continued to show her elite match-play chops, nearly reaching the semis for a second straight year.

But the week belonged to Martin Sampedro, who combined composure and clutch execution to rise through every round of the bracket. With her victory, she joins an elite group of past champions and delivers another landmark moment for Spanish amateur golf.

Next year’s championship will take place at Muirfield from 22–27 June 2026.

Saturday Recap

Farah O’Keefe of the United States and Paula Martin Sampedro of Spain will meet in Sunday’s 36-hole final at the 122nd Women’s Amateur Championship after a thrilling Saturday of match play at Nairn that featured heroic comebacks, high-level execution, and major championship implications. 

O’Keefe, a Texas player ranked No. 8 in the world pulled off one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent memory in the semifinals, rallying from four down with five to play to defeat Canada’s Tillie Claggett on the 19th hole. Claggett, who had earlier taken out U.S. Curtis Cup player Anna Davis with a 4&3 win in the quarterfinals, came out blazing with birdie-eagle-birdie in her first three holes and was 4 up through 10. But O’Keefe never flinched, seizing momentum late as Claggett faltered with bogeys on 14, 16, and 17. O’Keefe tied the match on 18 and then drained a 12-foot birdie putt to win it in extra holes, capping a signature moment in her amateur career.

Martin Sampedro, the top-ranked European in the field at No. 12 and a core member on the recent historic Stanford team, was cool and clinical throughout her semifinal clash with Italy’s Caterina Don. After knocking out compatriot Paula Francisco 3&2 in an all-Spanish quarterfinal, she brought steady control to the afternoon match. Her bunker play was instrumental, saves at 9 and 10 helped preserve and build a lead she would not relinquish. A birdie on 14 gave her a 3-up edge, and she closed things out on 16 for a 3&2 victory, setting up a title shot and a potential Spanish breakthrough not seen since Azahara Munoz in 2009.

O’Keefe had earlier survived a strong back-nine push from Denmark’s Marie Eline Madsen in the quarterfinals, hanging on for a 1-up win after Madsen’s putt to force extras lipped out on 18. Martin Sampedro’s win over Francisco was close throughout, she edged ahead with a birdie on 6 and held the advantage despite Francisco’s persistent pressure.

Sunday’s final brings together two of the game’s brightest young stars with a massive prize on the line: exemptions into the AIG Women’s Open, U.S. Women’s Open, Chevron Championship, Amundi Evian Championship, and a traditional invite to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Live coverage begins at 08:15 BST on R&A TV, YouTube, and Sky Sports.

Day 4 Recap

The match play bracket at the Women’s Amateur Championship narrowed from 64 to eight on Friday, with the Round of 32 unfolding in the morning and the Round of 16 wrapping up under the late Scottish sun. The day’s action brought upsets, emotional comebacks, and a quarterfinal slate highlighted by a head-to-head clash between Spanish compatriots Paula Francisco and Paula Martin Sampedro.

The day began with drama right from the top: stroke-play medalist and No. 1 seed Jasmine Koo looked poised for another routine win, surging 4 up through 11 on Spain’s Paula Francisco. But Francisco launched a remarkable comeback, winning four of the last seven holes to force extra holes and then delivering the knockout blow with a birdie at the 19th.

Another American standout, Catherine Park, wasn’t as fortunate. The world No. 7 was handed a 3&2 defeat by England’s Isla McDonald-O’Brien, who continued to embrace her underdog role and links-style savvy with her father Andy on the bag. Meanwhile, Curtis Cup player Anna Davis found her groove, shaking off a slow start to dismiss Havanna Torstensson 4&3.

India’s Mannat Brar added to the morning’s events by overturning a 4-down deficit against Rebekah Gardner, winning the last three holes of regulation to force extras and prevailing in 21 holes. Her comeback prowess was quickly becoming one of the week’s stories.

Other notable Round of 32 results included:

Paula Martin Sampedro (ESP) 1 up over Megan Propeck (USA)

Camille Min-Gaultier (FRA) 3&2 over Elice Frederiksson (SWE)

Caterina Don (ITA) 3&2 over Andie Smith (USA)

Jasmine Roberts (AUS) 4&2 over Jennifer Saxton (USA)

Marie Eline Madsen (DEN) beating Bentley Cotton (USA) in 19 holes after storming back from 4 down with five birdies in eight holes

The afternoon Round of 16 featured more tension, more wind, and no shortage of standout moments.

Francisco, fresh off her morning heroics, held off yet another surge, this time from Brar. After going 3 up through 10, Francisco saw her lead evaporate once again. But just as she had done hours earlier, she delivered a composed birdie on the 18th to move into the quarterfinals.

Joining her there is friend and compatriot Paula Martin Sampedro, who edged out Morgan Miller 1 up in a back-and-forth affair. The two Spaniards, who’ve represented their country together, will now face off in a dream quarterfinal for Spanish golf fans.

Elsewhere, Anna Davis clawed out a 1-up win over Sweden’s Ebba Nordstedt to stay alive, while Tillie Claggett delivered a composed 3&2 victory over Scotland’s Hannah Darling, ending the Curtis Cup player’s Amateur run.

Caterina Don advanced with a 1-up decision over Camille Min-Gaultier, and McDonald-O’Brien booked a spot in the final eight with a 2-up win over Jasmine Roberts. Marie Eline Madsen’s week of fireworks continued as she downed Silje Torvund Ohma 3&2, and Farah O’Keefe, the highest-ranked player remaining, cruised to a 4&2 win over Benedicte Brent-Buchholz.

Quarterfinal Matchups Set

🇪🇸 Paula Francisco vs. Paula Martin Sampedro 🇪🇸

🇮🇹 Caterina Don vs. 🇬🇧 Isla McDonald-O’Brien

🇺🇸 Anna Davis vs. 🇨🇦 Tillie Claggett

🇺🇸 Farah O’Keefe vs. 🇩🇰 Marie Eline Madsen

With quarterfinal and semifinal action to come on Saturday, and a 36-hole final on Sunday, momentum, match play, and a bit of magic will separate the champion from the field.

Day Three Recap

The opening day of match play at the 122nd Women’s Amateur Championship delivered everything we expect from the knockout stage.

Top seed Jasmine Koo wasted no time showing why she led stroke play. The American came out firing, winning the first six holes against South Korea’s Judy Joo and cruising to a 7&5 win. Koo played mistake-free golf, going two-under with two birdies and eleven pars in just 13 holes. 

“I definitely embraced being the number one seed,” she told the R&A afterward, “but I told my caddie, I can’t be number one and lose in the round of 64.”

There was no shortage of decisive wins elsewhere. Jasmine Roberts of Australia dominated England’s Sophia Fullbrook, 7&6, while India’s Mannat Brar birdied her first three holes and rolled to a 5&4 victory, her first match play win in three Women’s Amateur starts.

 “That momentum kind of continued the whole round,” she said, “and it’s just so fun playing this event.”

But one of the day’s standout moments came from Havanna Torstensson, the reigning R&A Girls’ Amateur Champion. The 17-year-old Swede, ranked outside the world’s top 600, stunned Patience Rhodes, one of GB&I’s Curtis Cup stars and a top-30 ranked player, 2&1. Torstensson took control on the back nine, winning 12 and 13, and held off every challenge from there. 

“A Girls’ and Women’s Amateur double would be cool,” she said after the round.

Scotland’s Hannah Darling, a two-time semi-finalist, also impressed. She holed out from a bunker on 16 to close out Sweden’s Alice Johansson, 4&2. Other Curtis Cup players who advanced included Catherine Park, who won 5&3, while Anna Davis, one of the biggest names in the field, knocked out England’s Jessica Hall, 4&3.

A few matches needed extra time. Gracie Mayo, Benedicte Brent-Buchholz, and
Isla McDonald-O’Brien all went past 18 holes to earn their places in the round of 32. Tillie Claggett, Morgan Miller, and Farah O’Keefe also survived tight matches, while France’s remarkable depth again showed up. Min-Gaultier, Fouillet, Reau, Delon, and Lamoure all won to put five French players into the next round.

With the field now cut in half, the pace quickens tomorrow with the final-16 rounds set to play out. The pressure only grows from here.

Featured Audio Recap: Day 2 at Nairn

Day Two Recap

The stroke play portion of the 122nd Women’s Amateur Championship came to a dramatic close on Tuesday evening at Nairn Golf Club, but not before the final light faded with one match play spot still hanging in the balance.

At the top of the leaderboard, Jasmine Koo of the United States delivered a clutch finish in the evening sunshine to capture medalist honors. The 19-year-old from California birdied the 17th hole and then hit a stunning 3-wood into the par-5 18th, setting up a 20-foot eagle putt that dropped and sent her to 6-under-par for the week. It was a timely charge that leapfrogged her ahead of overnight leader Marie Eline Madsen and France’s Constance Fouillet by a single stroke.

Koo, a member of the 2024 U.S. Curtis Cup team, became the first player to eagle the 18th across both rounds, and she did it with style.

“The fist bump was already up,” she joked after the round, “and I was like, ‘alright, this is really embarrassing if it doesn’t go in.’ But it went in thankfully.”

Madsen, who opened with a course-record 66 on Monday, looked poised to cruise through the second round after an eagle at the 2nd hole. But a bogey at the 13th and a costly double on the 15th saw her fall back to 5-under, where she was matched by Fouillet. The Frenchwoman’s round featured a chaotic start: bogey, eagle, double bogey on the first three holes, before she steadied herself with four back-nine birdies to card a 69.

Their performances headlined a tightly packed leaderboard that included impressive play from several of the week’s most anticipated names. France’s Sara Brentcheneff matched Madsen’s course record with a second-round 66, vaulting her to 4-under. She was joined there by compatriot Louise Reau, U.S. Curtis Cup player Catherine Park, and Scotland’s Hannah Darling, who is playing her final Women’s Amateur and looking to build on two previous semi-final appearances.

Further down the board, Anna Davis, Beth Coulter, and Patience Rhodes all advanced safely to match play, while Farah O’Keefe and Catherine Park, both inside the WAGR top 10, did enough to progress with strong second rounds.

But the biggest drama of the day belonged to the cut line.

With 64 spots available in the match play bracket and 12 players tied at 5-over-par, a sudden-death playoff began on the 1st hole in the evening sun. Among those involved were Romaine Masserey, Judy Joo, Vairana Heck, Paula Schulz-Hanssen, Caterina Don, Noa van Beek, and others. Six playoff holes later, seven players had advanced, but darkness fell before the final place could be decided.

That left Masserey and Joo to return Wednesday morning at 7:45 a.m., with one final spot still to be claimed in the round of 64.

For those moving on, match play begins immediately following the conclusion of the playoff. The road to the final, and a spot in four major championships plus the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, officially begins Wednesday.

And after the intensity of two days of stroke play and a playoff that outlasted the daylight, the real fun is just getting started.

Day One Recap

Denmark’s Marie Eline Madsen set the early pace at the 122nd Women’s Amateur Championship with a near-flawless 6-under 66 at Nairn Golf Club. Making just one bogey on the day, Madsen capitalized on scorable morning conditions to lead by two shots after the opening round.

Catch up on key highlights, weather conditions, and standout rounds from the opening day at Nairn Golf Club.

Hot on her heels is Jasmine Koo (USA), who turned in a bogey-free 68 to claim solo second. A cluster of players share third at 3-under, including Anna Davis of the United States, who also made just a single bogey, alongside Hannah Darling (Scotland), Mira Berglund (Sweden), Carys Worby (Wales), and Patience Rhodes (England).

France was dominant in the top 10, with Valentine Delon, Constance Fouillet, Louise Reau, and Maylis Lamoure all posting 2-under 70s. They’re joined by Paula Martin Sampedro, the Stanford standout from Spain.

Among top collegiate names, Farah O’Keefe (Texas) and Catherine Park (USC) each opened with a 73 (T27). Sweden’s Moa Svedenskiold sits at +2 (T41), while Florida State’s Sophia Fullbrook (+3, T58) and Miami’s Olivia Gronborg (+3, T58) are hovering near the cutline. Savannah De Bock (Belgium/Georgia) will need a low round to advance after posting a 4-over 76 (T75).

With one more round of stroke play remaining, the top 64 players will move on to match play, where anything can happen. Just last year, stroke-play medalist Lottie Woad, who is not in the field this week, had to claw her way through a tight opening match en route to the Round of 32. Expect more fireworks to come on the rugged links of Nairn.

What’s at Stake?

The champion earns entry into four major championships—AIG Women’s Open, U.S. Women’s Open, Chevron Championship, Amundi Evian Championship—and traditionally receives an invite to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

2025 Storylines

• Who will succeed Melanie Green? With 2024 champion Melanie Green now a professional competing on the Epson Tour, a new champion is set to emerge from a talented global field.
• Global talent includes top-50 WAGR players from Scandinavia, the U.S., and host country Scotland.

Format & Schedule

144 players begin with two stroke-play rounds (36 holes). The top 64 advance to the match-play bracket. The championship is decided in a 36-hole final.

Scoring Insights

Live Scoring: Real-time scoring is available on randa.org.

• Past Performance: In 2024, Melanie Green overcame a 4-hole deficit to win 2-up over Scotland’s Lorna McClymont.
• Notables: McClymont (Scotland), Rydqvist (Sweden), Madsen (Denmark), and Pancake (USA) reached the final stages last year.
• Weather Watch: Traditional links conditions—rain and wind—play a key role at Nairn.

Spectator Info

Admission: Free
Register to attend: Here
Download Info Pack: PDF

Past Champions

• 2024 – Melanie Green (USA, now professional), def. Lorna McClymont (SCO), 2 Holes – Portmarnock
• 2023 – Chiara Horder (GER), def. Annabelle Pancake (USA), 7&6 – Prince's
• 2022 – Jess Baker (ENG), def. Louise Rydqvist (SWE), 4&3 – Hunstanton
• 2021 – Louise Duncan (SCO), def. Jóhanna Lea Lúðvíksdóttir (ISL), 9&8 – Kilmarnock (Barassie)
• 2020 – Aline Krauter (GER), def. Annabell Fuller (ENG), 1 Hole – West Lancs
• 2019 – Emily Toy (ENG), def. Amelia Garvey (NZL), 1 Hole – Royal County Down
• 2018 – Leonie Harm (GER), def. Selina Lau (HKG), 3&2 – Hillside
• 2017 – Leona Maguire (IRL), def. Ainhoa Olarra (ESP), 3&2 – Pyle & Kenfig
• 2016 – Julia Engström (SWE), def. Dewi Weber (NED), 19th Hole – Dundonald Links
• 2015 – Céline Boutier (FRA), def. Linnea Strom (SWE), 4&3 – Portstewart