German golfer takes out Women’s Amateur in England

The German national team player, ranked 273rd on the women’s world amateur golf rankings, will also, by tradition, receive an invitation to compete in next year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship in the United States.

Horder, who knocked out the world’s leading women’s amateur golfer Ingrid Lindblad in the semi-finals, joins a championship roll of honour which includes Babe Zaharias, Catriona Matthew, Carlota Ciganda, Anna Nordqvist, Georgia Hall, Celine Boutier and Leona Maguire.

Pancake, 21, was bidding to be the first winner from the United States since Kelli Kuehne in 1996.

The Clemson University student was cheered on by her dad, Tony who arrived on Father’s Day to support his daughter after an overnight flight from Indiana helped by funds from members at Crooked Stick Golf Club.

KEY QUOTES Chiara Horder, Germany

On the victory Horder said: “I feel amazing. I’m so happy. I am so fortunate to win. I mean it’s one of the biggest amateur championships.

“I can’t believe it, just super happy. It’s incredible. We’ve played so many rounds the last couple days. It’s been like 11 rounds, and then playing close to 36 today, it was exhausting. But I stayed in it and I enjoyed it. It’s so special for me.

“After the morning break, I just tried to get back in again, collect my energy and just stay in there. I hit my fairways and greens and gave myself opportunities so that was good.”

On major championship exemptions she added: “That gives me goosebumps. That’s insane. The opportunities are incredible and I am so fortunate.

Chiara Horder of Germany won the 120th Women’s Amateur Championship after a convincing 7 and 6 win over Annabelle Pancake of the United States in the 36-hole final at Prince’s Golf Club in England last month.

The 20-year-old became the third player from Germany to lift The Women’s Amateur trophy in the last six years after Aline Krauter in 2020 and Leonie Harm in 2018.

Having led by three holes at the halfway stage, Horder surged to victory in the afternoon session thanks to consistent driving, precise iron play and an excellent short game which included four birdies on par threes.

By virtue of the win Horder has now secured places in the field for the Evian Championship in France and The Women’s Open later this year and the Chevron Championship and US Women’s Open in 2024.

However, there was to be no win for Pancake on her first visit to the United Kingdom as Horder become the third player to win The Women’s Amateur at the Prince’s course. Joyce Wethered earned the first of her four victories in 1922 and American Carol Sorenson triumphed in 1964.

From a record 232 entries, Prince’s welcomed a world class field of 144 players representing 36 countries, including 12 players ranked inside the top-50 on the world amateur rankings, with Horder coming out on top after a wonderful week of golf on the Kent coast.

Horder’s triumph adds to German amateur and professional success after Antonia Steiner won the girls’ under-16 Amateur Championship at Enville in April, while Sophia Popov won the Women’s Open in 2020.

Portmarnock will host The 121st Women’s Amateur Championship from June 24-29 next year.

“I cannot believe that I will be teeing it up then. It’s definitely a goal just to compete in these majors. I mean competing in the Women’s Open is just amazing. It’s definitely a dream.”