Nordaas ends Samu’s dream debut in Scotland
Sandra Nordaas from Norway ended Ivanna Samu’s dream run in the Girl’s British Open Amateur Championship in Scotland in the quarter-final on Thursday.
A day after Nordaas defeated fellow South African Kaleigh Telfer at the 20th hole in the second round, the Norwegian eliminated Samu in the same manner by once again claiming victory at the second extra hole.
Samu won the four of the first six holes in her third round match against Mathilde Fredensborg and the 16-year-old Ruimsig golfer kept the stranglehold going to defeat the Danish junior 4 & 2.
Nordaas, meanwhile, lost two early holes to Eva Gilly, but took control by the time the pair turned.
She downed the French junior 5 & 4 to set up a meeting with Samu on a warm, sunny afternoon at the North Ayrshire links venue.
Nordaas won the third hole, but Samu took the seventh to square the match and went 1-up at 11.
The Norwegian rallied to win 13 and 14, but South Africa’s top ranked junior wouldn’t back down and squared the match once again at 16.
The pair halved 17 and 18 and the first extra hole, but Nordaas won the next hole after Samu found the bunker with her approach at the par-four second.
“It was such an exciting match to follow and it really could have gone either way,” said Womens Golf South Africa president Karen Olivant.
“There was very little to separate the two and Ivanna played superbly. She should be really proud of this achievement, especially considering that this was only her third international start.
“Every little bit of experience from this week and from the Annika Invitational Europe will come to benefit them in their careers.”
Maria Parra from Spain served up the second surprise of the day when when she downed number one seed Frida Kinhult 3 & 2.
The world number three Parra swept into the quarter-finals after holing a 30-footer for birdie to win by one hole against Vanessa Knecht from Norway in round three.
Parra won six holes to dominate the match against the 15-year-old Kinhult, who won the Girls’ British Open Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifier on Tuesday.
Recent Annika Invitational Europe champion Ana Pelaez will face off against compatriot Marta Perez Sanmartin in one semi-final, while Parra aims to get past Nordaas to set up an all-Spanish final.
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of Womens Golf South Africa.