Perth’s Rudgeley wins English Women’s Amateur

We might not have brought home golfing gold in Japan but Western Australia’s Kirsten Rudgeley claimed some silverware of her own winning the English Women’s Amateur Championship in a thrilling final over Isobel Wardle at the Moortown Golf Club.

Rudgeley, who won the Scottish Women’s Open last month, looked like running away early with the tournament taking a 4up lead by the 14th hole before Wardle was able to wrestle the match back to all-square by the start of the 19th hole.

From there, the Prestbury golfer who is ranked 193rd in the world, was able to maintain a 2up advantage for most of the second 18 holes before Rudgley hammered out three birdies in a row from the 17th (35th) hole to hand the Englishwomen a heartbreaking loss on the 37th hole.

“It’s an awesome feeling to lift the trophy. The way I held myself together at the end there was good in a tough situation,” said Rudgeley.

Kirsten Rudgeley (Credit: England Golf/Leaderboard)

“It’s fantastic to have Mum with me as I go round, she’s a great support for me. Dad rang me as soon as the match finished as well and I’m sure I’ll be getting messages from the family all night!”

“Even when I was 3 down and Bel was playing well, I just tried to stay positive and keep believing that it was anyone’s game to win. I started striking the ball better on the back nine and that helped my game a lot.”

In 2020 Rudgeley won the Western Australia Amateur and Port Phillip Open Amateur and this year has now seen her claim another four titles including the Rene Erichsen Salver, the North Shore Classic in New Zealand, the Scottish Women’s Open and now the English Women’s Amateur.

Rudgeley also has two runner-up placings this season at the Western Australia Amateur and Australian Women’s Amateur Championship.