KNOCK golfer Katie Poots heads for the prestigious St Rule women’s tournament at St Andrews this weekend, boosted by victory in the Ulster Women’s Amateur Stroke Play Open Championship over two days at Shandon Park in her native Belfast.
US-based Katie held her nerve in the closing stages to register a 72 that secured a -2 total. She also finished two shots in front of her closest opponent, Rebekah Gardner of Clandeboye.
Katie (19) and Ellen O’Shaughnessy (County Louth) were out in front on the back nine but it was the Knock youngster who came out on top.
Katie began with four bogeys inside her first six holes but she bounced back and an eagle on 11 was crucial as she cut the deficit before a birdie on 14 gave her a winning position.
She secured the win with four straight pars, ahead of Gardner who finished with a 69 and O’Shaughnessy, who was one shot further back in third.
“It feels amazing, it builds my confidence a lot and I’m absolutely delighted,” said Katie.
“I leave for St Rule on Thursday so just building my confidence going into the next tournament and over the summer. It got very tight, it was good playing with Ellen, and I held a few good putts that I needed to hold and just kept me going steady.
“My first round I was playing really well and then I had a seven, which wasn’t ideal, but then I fought back, and I knew going into the second round yesterday that I was playing well and putts would drop and just had to keep steady.
“It was really nice for my mum and dad to be able to watch and a few members from Knock came down which meant the world. It’s really nice just so close to home.
“Honestly at the minute I just want to build confidence and build my game to where I want it to be for heading to the States again in August so I would love to do well in St Rule but as long as I start seeing progression, I am happy enough.”
Blainroe golfer David Lally won the Men’s tournament. The 21-year-old shot a stunning 66 to seal the win, just ahead of Darcy Hogg (Belvoir), who finished two shots in arrears at Shandon Park.
