In a spectacular conclusion at Crail Golfing Society, twelve players punched their tickets to the prestigious AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews after a thrilling final qualifying round on Sunday.
Craighead Links witnessed a competitive 18-hole battle among 92 vying competitors looking for a spot in one of golf’s most historic championships.
Leading the pack was China’s Weiwei Zhang, carding a five-under-par 67. Zhang’s superb round was highlighted by four birdies and a brilliant eagle on the par-5 8th hole, propelling her to the top of the leaderboard.
The 27-year-old finished one stroke ahead of the pack, including Casandra Alexander, Annabell Fuller, Kristen Gillman, and Emma Grechi, all of whom posted scores of four-under-par 68 to secure their places.
“The wind made it tough, but my practice paid off,” Zhang reflected on her round. “I’m thrilled to be heading to St Andrews for my first major championship.”
A little further down the leaderboard, four players—Lauren Hartlage, Noora Komulainen, Lee-Anne Pace, and Patricia Schmidt—clinched their spots with rounds of two-under-par 70, finishing in a tie for sixth place.
But the real drama unfolded in a blockbuster sudden-death playoff, where twelve players battled it out for the remaining three qualifying positions.
After a tense showdown, Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Stephanie Meadow, and Ursula Wikstrom emerged victorious, securing their places in the esteemed field that will compete at the legendary Old Course from 21-25 August.
The excitement among the qualifiers was at a high, with many of the golfers expressing their eagerness to compete in the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews.
Casandra Alexander, who has had her sights set on this event all year, shared her anticipation: “It’s been on my bucket list. The history here is unmatched, and I’m beyond excited.”
Similarly, England’s Annabell Fuller—who has a personal connection to the venue from her junior golf days— is thrilled to be making a return to the course where she honed her skills.
“I’m so excited to be playing at St Andrews. I grew up playing ‘wee wonders’ at the junior golf course so it’s nice to be going back. I played the St. Rule Trophy years ago but it’s been a while since I was last on the Old Course. It’s great to be back there.”
Kristen Gillman from the USA is another of the qualifiers keen to experience the challenge of the prestigious course for the first time.
“It’s such an iconic course. I’ve never played there so I’m excited to see it. I played the Women’s Scottish Open last week so felt like that was good preparation for today and the week ahead, knowing how much the wind affects the ball. You got to get as many rounds as you can to prep for golf in Scotland.”
With the stage set and a field of 144 players ready to compete for the coveted title, the 2024 AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews promises to be a stellar conclusion to this year’s majors.
