Agonising semi final loss for Ella Scaysbrook
Ella Scaysbrook embraces Megha Ganne at the completion of the semi final in extra time – image Darren Carroll USGA
NSW golfer, Ella Scaysbrook, has suffered an agonising loss in the semi-final of the US Women’s Amateur Championship at Bandon Dunes in Oregon, relinquishing a 4-up lead with just seven holes to play to lose at the first extra hole to American Megha Ganne.
Scaysbrook powered her way to a 4-up lead through 9 holes with three birdies, but lost the 10th before winning the 11th with another birdie. At that point, the 19-year-old appeared to have the match in control given the manner in which she was playing.
Ganne, though, began to find form, and in the demanding gusty seaside conditions played the next six holes in 2 under par to square the match at the 17th.
Both players struggled at the 18th, bogeys by the pair forcing the match into extra time before Scaysbrook was long with her approach at the short par 4 10th hole (the first of the playoff) and finally conceded Ganne’s birdie putt for the American to win 1 -up.
It will no doubt have been an heartbreaking loss for the teenager from Newcastle, but she can take solace in the fact that she reached the semi’s of the most significant event in women’s golf and did so after scraping into the match play field after a playoff on Wednesday morning where 15 golfers were battling for six places in the final 64.
“Just really proud of myself now that I am one the best I guess, I can compete with the best,” said Scaysbrook after the match. “After the stroke play I didn’t have a spot, so proud I made it this far.
“Nice to know that I secured my spots for the next two years,” she added, acknowledging that by getting this far in the event, she receives automatic entry into the US Women’s Am for the next two years.
“Definitely be back for this event. I’ll take this trip again next year, and after that, I don’t know if I’ll turn pro or not, but at this rate, I probably will by the end of next year.
“I’ll take out of it that I am capable of competing with the best.”
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
