If Scotland’s Lorna McClymont represents Great Britain & Ireland in this year’s Curtis Cup, which she has an excellent chance of doing, then she will look back at the R&A Student Tour Series as helping pave the way to her inclusion in the eight-women team GB&I captain Elaine Ratcliffe takes to Merion Golf Club in June.
Plus 5 Milngavie Golf Club member McClymont wasn’t named to the 12-player squad. It was released before she won last week’s R&A Student Tour Series – Spain.
There’s a good chance Curtis Cup selectors would have picked her had they observed the way she earned her most recent victory.
The affable Dumbarton native notched her third consecutive Series win, following victory at Troia Golf Resort in Portugal last month, and last year’s Irish event at Carton House. She was also second in the Scottish tournament at Fairmont St Andrews last year.
Three consecutive victories in the R&A initiative marks her out as a player in form. The Stirling University player won her previous two tournaments by four shots: she was the only women to break par, a closing 1-under 71, over the demanding Troia course, one of Europe’s toughest tests. She had to dig deep to emerge victorious at Infinitum Golf in Tarragona, Spain, defeating 18-year-old Welsh international Darcey Harry in a playoff. (By the way, look for Harry to feature in a future GB&I squad. Good player.)
McClymont began the final round two shots behind Harry, a plus four handicap member of Royal Porthcawl. The 21 year old trailed by one playing the final hole, only to show the sort of grit that should stand her in good stead should she go on to play in the Curtis Cup.
McClymont took on the par-5, 18th green in two in regulation, hitting a rescue club to within 20 feet of the flag. A two-putt birdie drew her level with Royal Agricultural University student Harry. McClymont replicated the feat in the playoff hole, this time hitting a 4-iron approach.
It was the sort of clutch performance from a player who would look good in GB&I colours at Merion. However, the sports studies student had to take a back seat to fellow Scots Hannah Darling and fellow Stirling teammate Louise Duncan when the squad was named.
Aside from her prowess in the Student Tour Series, McClymont won the BUCS Golf Tour – Fife Tournament in October. She finished third in both the St Rule Trophy and English Women’s Stroke Play Championship last summer. She was a member of Scottish teams that competed in the Home Internationals and European Team Championships. She also helped the International Team win the 2019 Palmer Cup, notably defeating strong American player Stephanie Lau 3&2 in the final singles session.
I was fortunate to watch every shot McClymont played in the final round in Tarragona. She was impressive. Aside from the back-to-back birdies on the final hole that gave her the win, she managed her game well during regulation play, hitting 11 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens. She stayed away from sucker pins. In short, the sort of golf perfectly suited for foursomes play.
No surprise the GB&I selectors choose Darling, last year’s Girls Amateur winner, and reigning Women’s Amateur champion Duncan as the two Scottish representatives. They played in the last match, and are the highest ranked Scots on the World Amateur Golf Ranking at 12th and 39th respectively. McClymont is Scottish number three at 173rd.
Nor do I have a problem with the other 10 representatives on Curtis Cup squad. They are all good players. Picking a strong eight-women team from the 12 should be no problem. However, McClymont’s name and game wouldn’t look out of place among those listed.
I’m not saying McClymont should be a guarantee for the team that takes on the might of the United States at storied Merion. Results between now and when the team is announced on the 26th of April will determine the eight players Ratcliffe takes to Merion, especially the upcoming European Nations Cup at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande. What I am saying is McClymont fully deserves consideration. Her name should be part of the conversation Ratcliffe has with her selectors.
#JustSaying: "We have selected a group of very talented players for our Curtis Cup squad and we will be monitoring their form and results over the coming months as we look to select the strongest possible side to play at Merion." Elaine Ratcliffe
Photograph by Getty Images courtesy of the R&A
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