THERE was national success for a young county-based golfer at the weekend as Craigielaw Golf Club member Gabrielle MacDonald was crowned Scottish Ladies Amateur champion in dramatic style.

MacDonald, 21, claimed victory after a sudden-death play-off to take the coveted title in its centenary year, holding off a spirited challenge from 17-year old Connie Jaffrey in the process.

MacDonald, from Edinburgh but a member at county course Craigielaw, is currently studying geography at St. Andrews University, and clinched the title with a par four at the first hole of the play-off at Prestwick.

At the first extra hole, Jaffrey, who was bidding to become the tournament’s youngest ever winner, hit her second shot left and had to pitch over a bunker, but she failed to get up and down.

That allowed MacDonald the chance to two-put and claim victory, and, despite earlier worries, she held her nerve to secure victory.

It had been far from plain sailing for MacDonald, though, as her final round got off to a disasterous start. She began by recording a disappoiting double-bogey six at the first hole. However, she recovered admirably to take a two-shot lead into the back nine.

Despite losing the first, MacDonald levelled with an impressive birdie at the third and then went on to win the fifth and sixth, before holding out to ensure she reached the turn two in front of her Ayrshire opponent.

Jaffrey, the Scottish girls champion, replied in kind as she looked to play her way back into contention, with impressive wins at the 10th and 11th aiding her cause, but momentum quickly shifted back to MacDonald as she took the 13th and 16th to restore a one-shot advantage.

The Ayrshire girl drew herself level by making birdie at the 17th, before par at the last sent the final into the play-off.

It only took one hole, though, as MacDonald (pictured) held her nerve and emerged from the play-off as the champion, much to the delight of Craigielaw’s general manager, Derek Scott.

He told Courier Sport: “It is fantastic for the club and particularly for the junior and youth section.

“It has been great watching Gabrielle progressing through the ranks and hopefully her success spurs on others and makes them realise they can do it too.

“Hopefully Gabrielle’s win encourages not just our club, but the whole county.” MacDonald joins fellow county star Catriona Matthew on the roll of honour, and will hope to build on that success this weekend when she competes in the St. Rule trophy in St. Andrews.