Green captures amateur title in Ireland

Contributed Photo – Melanie Green celebrates with the championship trophy after capturing the R&A Women’s Amateur championship today in Ireland.

Making a spectacular debut in international golf competition, Medina’s Melanie Green captured the championship at the R&A Women’s Amateur Championship which concluded this afternoon at Portmarnock, Ireland.

Trailing by four after eight holes and by one with four holes to go, Green came battling back to win the final three holes of today’s 36 hole match play championship match for a two up victory over Lorna McClymont from Scotland.

Contributed Photo – Melanie Green concentrates on lining up a putt during today’s title round match.

She becomes the first American player to win the event since 1996.

“Lorna is an incredible player. Everyone I’ve played here are all great players,” said Green in a post match interview. “It’s such great golf. The tournament has a lot of history. It’s incredible to win it and to have my name on the trophy is ridiculous.”

In addition to winning the title, Green also earned a number of exemptions to future events including to the U.S. Women Amateur Open, the Augusta Women’s Amateur and the AIG Women’s Open at St. Andrews.

The event, which was formerly known as the British Women’s Open Amateur championship, was a week long event which began with two rounds of stroke play followed by six rounds of match-play competition.

Green finished tied for 12th after the opening two rounds of stroke play to advance to the match-play portion of the tournament.

In the first three rounds of match play she defeated Victoria Kristensen from Denmark 5 & 3, Liao Hsin Chun from Taipei 5 & 4 and Paula Martin Sampedro from Spain 6 & 5 to advance to the quarterfinals.

The quarterfinal match proved to be her closest as she needed two extra holed to edge Paula Schulz-Hanssen from Germany on the 20th hole.

Green then defeated Maria Eline Madseon from Denmark 3 & 1 in the semifinals to gain a spot in the championship match.

The tournament was a great tune-up on a links golf course for Green who will remain in Ireland to play for Team USA in the Arnold Palmer Cup tournament next weekend.