Reitter reigns in Wales with Girls’ Amateur triumph
Sixteen-year-old French starlet outlasts Naughton in birdie-laden duel at Conwy
Las Vegas - France’s Lily Reitter captured the biggest win of her young career with a 4&2 victory over England’s Charlotte Naughton in the Final of The R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship at Conwy.
Reitter, 16, built a commanding advantage in the morning’s opening 18 holes before fending off Naughton’s spirited fightback. The French teenager, who is bound for a scholarship at the University of Virginia, became the first champion from her country since Alexandra Bonetti in 2010.
“I’m so proud of myself,” Reitter said. “I did have a big lead through 18 but it’s always tough to maintain that kind of advantage. Charlotte really is impressive and it was a pleasure to battle it out against her.”
Naughton, the German Girls’ International Amateur winner earlier this season, clawed back ground with a burst of birdies but her hopes ended when a drive on the 34th hole found bushes. Reitter’s steadiness and composure secured her the trophy and exemptions into the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, The Women’s Amateur Championship and the US Girls’ Junior Championship, as well as Final Qualifying for the AIG Women’s Open.
“This changes my year,” Reitter added. “I wasn’t playing that well, I was missing cuts and if I was in contention I’d crack in the final round. So this shows that, mentally, I have progressed as well.” Next year’s Girls’ Amateur Championship will be staged at Craigielaw in East Lothian.