Chloe Tarbard from Royal Norwich clinched the Scottish Girls’ Championship title at Powfoot Golf Club in Dumfriesshire, edging out her Norfolk counterpart, Nellie Ong, by a single shot in a gripping finale on Friday.
Despite trailing by six shots going into the final day of the three-day event, Tarbard’s remarkable performance in harsh weather conditions propelled her to victory with a score of 74 (+1), finishing at +4 overall.
Drawing inspiration from her previous triumph at the 2023 English Girls’ U16 Championship, Tarbard displayed unwavering determination throughout the round.
Reflecting on her victory, Tarbard revealed the motivational message she received from her father before teeing off.
“In the morning my dad text me and reminded me that I came from seven shots behind to win the English U16 Championship and that I could definitely still win this competition.
That was in my head for the whole round,” she shared. Tarbard’s momentum surged with a remarkable 40-foot birdie putt on the 1st hole, setting the tone for her steady performance.
“I holed a 40-footer for birdie on the 1st which really got the round going and then I just tried to make steady pars and hit fairways and greens,” she explained.
As Tarbard approached the final stretch, she maintained her composure despite the pressure, buoyed by the support of her fellow English golfers.
“It was really nice when I was on the 16th as my fellow English girls all came out to watch and knowing that they were all cheering me on and supporting was really nice,” she expressed.
The intense rivalry between Tarbard and Ong, who have been competing against each other since childhood, added an extra layer of drama to the event.
“We always really want to beat each other and have done since we were younger!” Tarbard admitted.
The nail-biting conclusion saw Tarbard clinching victory with a nerve-wracking final putt, securing her biggest win to date.
Meanwhile, Ong finished in tied-2nd, just one shot behind, highlighting the fierce competition between the two friends and competitors.
Reflecting on the significance of her win, Tarbard expressed gratitude for the confidence it instilled in her future performances.
“It’s the biggest win I’ve had and it’s given me a lot of confidence and hopefully I can play like that more moving forward,” she remarked.
Tarbard’s triumph adds to a string of successes for England’s women and girls in the world of golf, following Lottie Woad’s recent victory at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
With an impressive contingent of English players dominating the top 20 in the Scottish Girls’ Championship, there’s palpable excitement for the future of women’s golf in England.
Becca Hembrough, England Golf Women’s Performance Manager, expressed optimism about the continued success of English players on the regional, national, and international stages, attributing it to the collective effort of players, coaches, and volunteers.
