Super Stephanie shoots 63 - still has to qualify for Ricoh Women's British Open
Stephanie Meadow speaks to the media following her final round 63 and tie for third in the ISPS Handa Ladies European Masters
Stephanie Meadow continued her meteoric start to her pro career when she closed with a stunning, course record equalling 63 to finish tied for third in the ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters at the Buckinghamshire.
The 22-year old finished seven shots behind runway winner I.K. Kim on 11 under par, earning €27,733 a to go with the $271,373 she took home for finishign third on her professional debut in the US Women's Open at Pinehurst No 2 — a total of €227,330 from her first two starts in the paid ranks.
Stephanie Meadow is being used to promote an event for which she has not yet qualified.
You might think that the Royal Portrush golfer is a guaranteed starter in the Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale next week, considering her image is being used on posters for the event. But she's not a member of either the LPGA or the Ladies European Tour and hasn't fulfilled any of the qualifying criteria.
Instead she must chase one of 14 spots in the qualifier at Southport and Ainsdale on Monday but given the way she's playing after carding the lowest round of her competitive career, finishing in the Top 14 will be child's play for the Ulster star.
She was obviously thrilled by her final round performance as she finished tied for third with South Africa's Lee-Anne Pace and Germany's Caroline Masson.
What a fantastic finish. What made the difference?
I just hit a lot of solid shots. All week I’ve had a good front nine or a good back nine. I just couldn’t put 18 holes together so obviously I did that today.
Was there a change in conditions?
The greens were a little softer than the first two days. That makes scoring a lot easier and the wind wasn’t too bad today so that made some winds a lot easier. There were less side winds and more downwind and into the wind, so it was a little easier.
Nine birdies but there were more chances.
I didn’t birdie nine or ten which are two of the par fives. Whatever! (Laughs).
This is your best round. Do you have a 65 somewhere?
I think I have a 64 somewhere as an amateur. I don’t know where!
What were your highlights?
I started off with birdie on two and I made a really long putt on four which was nice. I got the putter going and other than that it was some solid shots and some great putts. The putt was 35 or 40 feet probably.
How do you assess your start to your professional career?
It’s going pretty well. I can’t complain.
Can you put it into words?
Awesome! Nine birdies.
How do you summarise the start?
It’s been a dream start but it’s also a dream to play in this environment. US Open and here: the bigger the better! It’s more fun. Being out here playing for a crowd is what I love to do.
What are your goals and schedule?
I’m going to qualify for the British Open tomorrow hopefully and after that I’m waiting for some sponsor exemptions to see if I can play LPGA in the States. Goal wise, I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing, work harder than ever and see where it puts me."
As for the winner, Kim improved on her overnight lead to claim a commanding five stroke victory.
Four birdies on the front nine in a round of 68 at Buckinghamshire saw the 26-year-old South Korean end on a four-round total of 18-under-par 270, holding off the challenge of Australian Nikki Campbell, who had two eagles and a birdie in her 67.
ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters, Buckinghamshire Golf Club (par 72)
Collated Final Scores:
270 - I.K. Kim (KOR) 71 68 63 68
275 - Nikki Campbell (AUS) 72 68 68 67
277 - Stephanie Meadow (NIR) 73 71 70 63, Lee-Anne Pace (RSA) 70 69 70 68, Caroline Masson (GER) 68 74 66 69
278 - Amelia Lewis (USA) 68 71 68 71, Stacy Lee Bregman (RSA) 70 71 68 69, Ariya Jutanugarn (THA) 72 73 66 67, Sarah Kemp (AUS) 67 68 72 71, Vikki Laing (SCO) 69 72 69 68
279 - Amy Boulden (WAL) 69 69 72 69, Hannah Jun (USA) 71 71 70 67, Minjee Lee (AUS) 71 68 67 73
280 - Charley Hull (ENG) 70 74 68 68, Sarah-Jane Smith (AUS) 72 70 67 71, Gwladys Nocera (FRA) 69 70 71 70
281 - Sophie Giquel-bettan (FRA) 74 71 67 69
282 - Katie Burnett (USA) 70 71 72 69, Sally Watson (SCO) 67 73 69 73
283 - Karrie Webb (AUS) 73 70 70 70, Diana Luna (ITA) 69 72 72 70
284 - Liz Young (ENG) 75 70 70 69
285 - Maria Balikoeva (RUS) 73 71 72 69
286 - Becky Morgan (WAL) 68 72 73 73, Su-Hyun Oh (AUS) 70 75 66 75, Stephanie Na (AUS) 71 70 72 73
287 - Connie Chen (RSA) 73 74 73 67, Cheyenne Woods (USA) 70 75 71 71, Annabel Dimmock (ENG) 72 74 74 67, Holly Clyburn (ENG) 76 71 68 72
288 - Sophie Gustafson (SWE) 72 72 73 71, Malene Jorgensen (DEN) 77 67 72 72
289 - Pamela Pretswell (SCO) 70 77 71 71, Cassandra Kirkland (FRA) 76 70 76 67, Maria Hernandez (ESP) 74 74 69 72, Celine Herbin (FRA) 67 71 74 77, Tania Elosegui (ESP) 73 74 73 69, Valentine Derrey (FRA) 69 76 70 74, Camilla Lennarth (SWE) 73 76 70 70, Felicity Johnson (ENG) 74 75 68 72, Ursula Wikstrom (FIN) 70 75 71 73, Nontaya Srisawang (THA) 77 73 71 68, Patricia Sanz Barrio (ESP) 74 73 76 66, Georgia Hall (ENG) 72 73 70 74, Klara Spilkova (CZE) 71 76 72 70
290 - Florentyna Parker (ENG) 74 74 72 70, Caroline Afonso (FRA) 74 70 75 71
291 - Linda Wessberg (SWE) 74 76 70 71, Rebecca Artis (AUS) 73 74 73 71, Lydia Hall (WAL) 75 74 73 69
292 - Veronica Zorzi (ITA) 77 71 72 72, Margherita Rigon (ITA) 74 73 71 74, Mikaela Parmlid (SWE) 73 75 67 77, Fabienne In-albon (SUI) 73 76 73 70, Jia Yun Li (CHN) 72 73 77 70, Nicole Broch Larsen (DEN) 74 76 71 71, Hannah Burke (ENG) 73 73 77 69
293 - Daniela Holmqvist (SWE) 75 74 74 70, Noora Tamminen (FIN) 73 77 74 69, Sophie Walker (ENG) 70 78 74 71, Rebecca Hudson (ENG) 70 72 74 77, Laura Davies (ENG) 74 74 72 73
294 - Jing Yan (CHN) 71 78 76 69
295 - Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) 72 73 74 76, Nikki Garrett (AUS) 78 71 73 73, Nobuhle Dlamini (SWZ) 75 75 73 72, Lucie Andre (FRA) 78 70 75 72, Bree Arthur (AUS) 73 75 75 72
296 - Mathilda Cappeliez (FRA) 74 75 77 70, Mireia Prat (ESP) 74 76 71 75, Lorie Kane (CAN) 73 76 76 71
297 - Ariane Provot (FRA) 72 78 76 71, Isabell Gabsa (GER) 71 74 75 77
299 - Louise Larsson (SWE) 73 76 79 71, Julie Greciet (FRA) 77 72 78 72
301 - Anais Maggetti (SUI) 73 76 80 72
303 - Elisabeth Esterl (GER) 73 77 78 75
