Melanie Green (Royal and Ancient Photo)
Date: June 10–15, 2025
Venue: Nairn Golf Club, Scotland
Watch: Streaming via
The R&AThe 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.
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