SUNNINGDALE, ENGLAND | At the tender age of 21, Hannah Darling felt like something of a veteran for last week’s 43rd Curtis Cup at Sunningdale Golf Club.
The Scot, from the Broomieknowe club in Edinburgh, made her third appearance in the biennial contest for the women’s leading amateur talents from Great Britain and Ireland and the United States of America.
Having played at Conwy in 2021, a match delayed one year by the COVID-19 pandemic, and at Merion in 2022, Darling has made rapid Curtis Cup appearances as one of the brightest young talents in the game.
“It feels weird to have the experience,” Darling said at the start of the week. “I’ve always been used to being one of the younger players on teams, but obviously this year I’m one of the more experienced. I’m really excited to answer a few questions and bring a bit of wisdom to try and help our team.
“I’ve picked up little things about playing in match play. But it’s also a long week, and I’ve learnt to soak it all in. It goes really quickly, and it’s about making the most of it because it’s one of the best weeks of your amateur career.”
Darling has been around Scottish amateur golf circles for so long the “veteran” tag is just. A youth prodigy, Darling won the Scottish Girls’ Championship way back in 2017.
Catriona Matthew, the GB&I captain last week and a fellow Scot, has often taken Darling under her wing, including games over the links at North Berwick where Matthew resides.
Her golf has continued to blossom since Darling went to college in the U.S. This year, the three-time All-American at the University of South Carolina was part of the International team in the Arnold Palmer Cup at Lahinch and progressed to the match-play stages in the Women’s Amateur Championship for the fifth consecutive year.
“I’ve had a little bit of time off, so I’m feeling pretty rested. I’m hitting the ball pretty well.”
Hannah Darling
In 2023, she tied for eighth in the European Ladies’ Amateur in Sweden and represented her country in the Vagliano Trophy and the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” added Darling, who sits 30th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking. “I’ve had a little bit of time off, so I’m feeling pretty rested. I’m hitting the ball pretty well.”
She also won the 2018 R&A Girls’ U16 Amateur and the 2021 R&A Girls’ Amateur at Fulford.
Playing and thriving in R&A championships has been a regular occurrence.
“This is always a great week in our calendar,” said Darling, ahead of the tee-off at Sunningdale on Friday. “I’ve played in the Curtis Cup twice already, and I’ve loved both weeks. I’m so excited to be here and join this group of players.
“Sunningdale is awesome. We were here two weeks ago for practice, and we all loved the course. This week is even better. The course is in such great condition, and the greens are rolling really good.”
With Sunningdale basking in glorious weather conditions last week and the fans enjoying the contest, Darling loved the experience alongside her countrywoman and teammate Lorna McClymont.
“Playing at home is amazing,” Darling said. “There is no better feeling. When I first played at home at Conwy in 2021, we had the COVID-19 challenges, so there was limited attendance. So, this year was really special with the fans here and the level of support.”
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