Dominant Heath takes Australian Amateur crown
Charlotte Heath ruled in Queensland as she became the first Brit for a quarter of a century to win the Australian Women’s Amateur Championship.
The Huddersfield teenager dominated Indonesia’s Mela Putri as she claimed a 7&6 victory in the 36-hole final at Royal Queensland Golf Club.
Heath won or halved the first 20 holes. She was 4up after 9 and birdied 10, 12 and 13 to extend her lead to seven holes. She was up by eight at the halfway mark.
Holing out for eagle from the 3rd fairway, as the afternoon round got under way, took her to 10up and, while Putri won four of the next five, it was only holding off the inevitable.
An England squad member and Yorkshire county player, 18-year-old Heath won the title in style, holing a 12-footer from off the green at the 12th for a half and to take the title.
And that’s all she wrote!
With the 12th split in pars, @EnglandGolf’s @heathcharlotte9 wins the 2020 #AusAm 7&6!!! 👏🏆 pic.twitter.com/Wiyx2Mm088
— Golf Australia (@GolfAust) January 19, 2020
Julie Hall, in 1995, was the last British women to win the Australian Amateur and Heath adds her name to a list that includes Miss M Backhouse (1905), Miss JB Walker (1935) and Miss V Anstey (1955).
It’s the biggest win of her amateur career and follows successes in the Pleasington Putter and Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters.
After qualifying for the matchplay stages in a tie for 17th in the two-round strokeplay, with rounds of 71 and 74, Heath saw off Fiona Xu (4&2), Charley Jacbos (4&2), Lion Higo (3&2) and Minju Kim (3&2) – before raising her game again in the final
She told Golf Australia: “It was a bit stressful and I was super nervous to start with.
“I got off to a quick start so that helped and then the second 18 she started playing really good so it was a really intense match.”
Our #AusAm champion Charlotte Heath 🏴 is keen to take up her starts in the @VicOpenGolf and @WomensAusOpen…
As long as she can get out of school! 😂
Congratulations, Charlotte – you've been a pleasure to watch all week! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/6RKc9HZpol
— Golf Australia (@GolfAust) January 19, 2020
On her winning putt, she added: “I was just like ‘hole it’ – it was for a half anyway so if I missed it and it went six feet past it didn’t really matter.”
Heath will now play in both the Women’s Australian Open and Vic Open next month, both events that are sanctioned by the LPGA Tour.
“I’ve never played in any (LPGA) events before, so hopefully I can get it off school,” she said. “My mum us working on it.”
Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
