The 21-year-old defeated Amelia Garvey by one hole in the 18-hole final over the renowned links on the east coast of Northern Ireland.
Cornwall’s Toy, ranked 450th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking™, ended Garvey’s hopes of becoming the first New Zealander since 1986 to claim the trophy. In her morning semi-final, Toy also shone to defeat Linn Grant from Sweden, ranked 25th in the world.
The 2017 R&A Foundation Scholars Tournament winner also gained exemptions into the 2019 Evian Championship, as well as next year’s US Women’s Open and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship.
After both players made birdies on the third hole of the final, Christchurch native Garvey, ranked 200th in the world, went ahead at the 5th after Toy’s bogey. However, Toy hit straight back at the next after a glorious approach set up a birdie.
The pair exchanged bogeys before another dropped shot from Toy handed Garvey the lead at the 11th. Just when it looked like the University of Southern California student may pull clear, she bogeyed the 14th to return the contest to all square. Toy, attached to Carlyon Bay Golf Club, let a chance slip at the 16th when she three-putted but made no mistake at the 17th from 20 feet for birdie
Amazing week
Garvey, 19, said, “I gave it everything. I left it all out there which is all I can ask for. I’m really proud of the way I played. It’s been an amazing week.
“Emily played incredibly well, especially down the stretch. She slipped up once on 16 with a three putt but apart from that she didn’t miss many fairways or make many mistakes.
“I really wanted to win but playing in front of all those people and just getting to the final was a great thrill. This is my best achievement in golf so far and gives me a lot of confidence going forward.”
Event Information
The Pam Barton Memorial Salver was awarded to Toy, with runner-up Garvey receiving The Diana Fishwick Cup. An international team award was presented after the stroke playing qualifying rounds, with Italy taking the honours with an aggregate score of 296.
A 144-player international field made up of competitors from 26 countries assembled at Royal County Down from Tuesday for two rounds of 18-hole stroke play qualifying before the lowest 64 scores progressed to the match play stage.
The 117th Women’s Amateur Championship will be played at Kilmarnock (Barassie) in Scotland from 23 – 27 June 2020.
Final Scorecard | Semi-final Results
