Gemma Dryburgh. Pic: Ladies European Tour
Kent, UK, July 10: Gemma Dryburgh not only won her second successive event on the Rose Ladies Series, but also became the first woman professional to win a tournament at Royal St. George’s.
She later received the Rose bowl from club captain Tim Dickson and posed with her mum Marjory and dad, John, who acted as her caddie.
The 27-year-old Dryburgh’s second win in the series sponsored by Justin Rose and wife, Kate Rose, was historic as it was also Royal St. George’s first-ever ladies pro event.
Dryburgh won the fourth leg of the Rose Ladies Series with a card of one-under 69 following on her success in the third leg at the Buckinghamshire last week. Charley Hull had won the first event at Brokenhurst Manor, while Meghan MacLaren won the second at Moor Park.
For Dryburgh, the tournaments have provided the perfect preparation for her first AIG Women’s British Open, due to take place at Royal Troon next month. She said: “It’s perfect because we rarely get to play links golf, let alone famous Open Championship venues like Royal Troon and Royal St. George’s.”
Dryburgh finished one stroke ahead of English Solheim Cup stars Georgia Hall and Charley Hull, who won the first event at Brokenhurst Manor. Annabel Dimmock, tied for fourth with amateur Emily Toy. Meghan MacLaren, who won the second leg at Moor Park, tied for 22nd.
“I’m delighted to be the first ever female professional to win a tournament at Royal St. George’s in their first ever ladies’ professional event,” said Dryburgh, who now leads the Rose Ladies Series’ American Golf Order of Merit.
“It’s just so special to be the winner at a great and prestigious course, which was in immaculate condition.”
Dryburgh, who sits in fifth position on the LET’s 2020 Race to Costa del Sol Rankings, bogeyed the par-4 first hole on the famous links and then picked up her first birdie on the par-5 7th to go out in level par 35.
A pair of birdies on the 10th and 13th followed by a bogey on the par-4 15th saw her come home in 34 to set the target.
“Winds were blowing 20-30 miles per hour, so it was tough and I hit my woods well. I used them a lot coming in.
“A great par putt from 18 feet on 16 helped to secure the win and then on the last two holes I hit 3-woods into the par fours and holed good putts.
“It was great playing with Georgia and Charley and we were neck and neck all day and feeding off each other, so it certainly felt like a big event and it was very special.”
The tournament venue was identified and organised through connections of Kate Rose, who would have been watching her husband, Justin, play at the venue in the Open Championship next week, had the event not been postponed. The Roses put £35,000 of their own money into the Series to help British female professionals gain valuable playing opportunities during the coronavirus pandemic.
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