Sweden enjoyed double delight in the R&A Girls’ and Boys’ Amateur championships after Havanna Torstensson and Viggo Olsson Mörk claimed memorable victories.
Torstensson surged to an 8-and-7 triumph over Matylda Krawczynska of Poland in the scheduled 36-hole final at Alwoodley to win the 95th staging of the Girls’ Amateur.
In the 97th edition of the Boys’ Amateur at nearby Moortown, Olsson Mörk came back from 5-down after 12 holes to defeat Scott Woltering from the Netherlands, 4 and 3.
Both players emerged victorious from the global 144-player fields at the renowned West Yorkshire venues.
Olsson Mörk capped a glorious week for Sweden with his impressive comeback in the final.
By virtue of his win, he earned exemptions into Final Qualifying for the Open Championship, the Amateur Championship and the U.S. Junior Amateur. The first Swedish winner since his friend Albert Hansson in 2022, Olsson Mörk joins a list of past champions that includes Michael Bonallack, José María Olazábal, Sergio García, Matthew Fitzpatrick and David Howell.
While Woltering was more attack-minded with the driver, the 17-year-old Swede – who went to the same high school as Ludvig Åberg, a PGA Tour winner and Ryder Cup team member – opted for a different strategy and used his long irons regularly.
In a topsy-turvy morning session, Woltering, 18, settled quickest and surged to a 4-up lead after only seven holes. Birdies at the first and seventh and bogeys from his opponent at the fifth and sixth secured the advantage. Woltering then made key putts from 15 feet and 5 feet to halve the 10th and 11th, respectively, before he highlighted the final at the par-5 12th.
Having pushed his tee shot on 12 into the right rough, Woltering chipped out before flighting a pitching wedge down the hill from 160 yards into the hole for a stunning eagle to go 5 up.
Olsson Mörk refused to buckle and replied with a winning birdie at the 13th and soon claimed three holes in a row after costly errors from Woltering at the 14th and 15th to reduce his deficit to two.
A roar of delight took the Netherlands player back three ahead after a 9-foot birdie putt on the 16th, but he took two shots from a greenside bunker on the short 17th and then pulled his drive on the 18th to take a penalty drop and lose both holes to go into the break just 1 up.
Woltering – winner of the Dutch National Open Match Play this year – claimed the 19th with a birdie, but a run of three bogeys then allowed his rival to lead for the first time at the 22nd. Woltering immediately replied after a glorious tee shot set up a winning birdie at the next, but he was 1-down again when Olsson Mörk birdied the par-5 25th. He then misjudged his approach putt at the 28th for bogey and a two-hole deficit. As the Swede continued his steady play, Woltering bogeyed at the 31st to fall 3-down, and another bogey at the 33rd ended the contest.
“I can’t believe this,” said the victor. “I thought I could come back, but I didn’t think it would actually happen. It felt far away, especially on the 12th after Scott holed for his eagle. I had lost count of how many I was behind. He then smashed a driver down the 13th, and it wasn’t looking too good.
“But I just tried to believe and knew there were many holes left to play. I did my absolute best to try and fight back. I received so many messages last night from family and friends back home about fighting and never giving up. It turned out pretty good.”
Torstensson savoured the biggest win of her young career at the Girls’ Amateur.
The 16-year-old put in a composed and clinical display to beat Krawczynska and join a decorated roll of honour which includes major champions and Solheim Cup players such as Suzann Pettersen, Anna Nordqvist, Azahara Muñoz and Georgia Hall.
With her victory, Torstensson also gained an exemption into Final Qualifying for the AIG Women’s Open, the Women’s Amateur, the U.S. Girls’ Junior and, by tradition, an invitation to compete at the Augusta National Women's Amateur.
Torstensson seized an early advantage with a 6-foot birdie putt on the third hole of the morning’s opening round and from then on was in total control.
As Krawczynska, a three-time Polish junior champion, struggled to replicate the form that had swept her into the final, Torstensson used assured play to fortify her position of authority as she went 6-up through 11 holes. Krawczynska could not gain a foothold in the tussle, but the 18-year-old trundled in a 25-footer on the 15th for a birdie to give herself a much-needed lift.
The Pole then clawed another hole back on the 17th when Torstensson shanked her second shot into the trees, but the Swede moved back into a five-hole lead on the 18th.
Having won the opening two holes of the afternoon to extend her lead to seven, Torstensson was in charge. Krawczynska saw her day unravel on the 28th hole when she thinned a bunker shot over the green and lost her ball.
Her concession there meant that Torstensson was 7-up with just eight to play, and the victory was sealed on the short 29th when Krawczynska’s par putt lipped out and Torstensson tidied up a title-winning 3.
She becomes just the third Swede, after Nordqvist and Maria Hjorth, to win the Girls’ Amateur.
“It feels amazing,” said the new champion. “I can’t believe it really, but I am so happy. I played some very steady golf. I didn’t make many mistakes, which helped, and I played the par-5s very well. It’s the biggest win of my career. I’m so grateful to be the winner, and I’m already looking forward to playing again next year.”
BOYS’ RESULTS / GIRLS’ RESULTS
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