EMILY TOY WINS THE WOMEN'S 

AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP AT ROYAL 

COUNTY DOWN

Newcastle, Northern Ireland: England’s Emily 

Toy produced the best performance of her career to win The 

116th Women’s Amateur Championship at Royal County 

Down.

The 21-year-old defeated Amelia Garvey by one hole in the 18-hole Final over the renowned links on the east coast of Northern Ireland.

Toy, who is ranked 450th in the World Amateur Golf 

Ranking™, ended Garvey’s hopes of becoming the first New 

Zealander since 1986 to claim the trophy. In her morning 

semi-final against Linn Grant, the Englishwoman also shone 

to defeat the Swede, ranked 25th in the world, by two holes.

Toy is the first English player to win the title since 

Georgia Hall in 2013 and has earned a spot in the AIG 

Women’s British Open at Woburn in August, thanks to 

her triumph. 

The 2017 R&A Foundation Scholars Tournament champion 

has also gained exemptions into the 2019 Evian 

Championship, as well as the US Women’s Open and the 

Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship next 

year.

After both players made birdies on the third hole of the Final, Garvey went ahead at the 5th after Toy’s bogey. However, Toy hit straight back at the 6th after a glorious approach set up a birdie.

The pair exchanged bogeys before another dropped shot from Toy handed Garvey the lead at the 11th. Just when it looked like the University of Southern California student may pull clear, she bogeyed the 14thto return the contest to all square. 

Toy, attached to Carlyon Bay Golf Club in Cornwall, let a chance slip at the 16th when she three-putted but made no mistake with a 20 foot putt for birdie at the 17th. 

A par at the last was good enough for victory as Toy joined a 

roll of honour that also includes Anna Nordqvist (2008) and 

Céline Boutier (2015).

In the morning’s semi-finals, Toy was two down after only 

three holes to Grant. She fought back to lead the match after Grant’s concession at the short 10th, doubled her lead at the 13th and won on the 18th thanks to an excellent approach shot.

Garvey was also down early to Daniella Barrett, who was 

bidding to become the first ever Finnish winner. However, 

the 19-year-old clawed her way back to lead after six holes 

and never relinquished her advantage throughout the 

emainder of the match to triumph 3 and 1.

The Pam Barton Memorial Salver was awarded to Toy with 

runner-up Garvey receiving The Diana Fishwick Cup. 

An international team award was presented after the 

stroke-play qualifying rounds with Italy taking the 

honour with an aggregate score of 296.

The 117th Women’s Amateur Championship will be played at Kilmarnock (Barassie) from 23-27 June 2020.

Key Quotes:

Emily Toy, England

“It’s amazing to win. I played solidly all week. I stayed in the 

moment in the final and handled my nerves. I really 

struggled this morning off the tee but I found the fairways 

this afternoon which gave me the chances. My putting was 

also really solid from long distance.

“I went to Australia in January and won the New South 

Wales stroke play qualifying but given it was a match play 

tournament it didn’t really feel like a win. I’ve been hunting a 

win down and been playing quite nicely this year so to do it 

here is amazing.

“I was ranked about 800 in the world at the start of the year 

but I’ve been ticking down the rankings, especially after the 

way I played in Australia. Hopefully I can come down a few 

more spots after this week!”

On playing in the AIG Women’s British Open: “I was saying 

to my parents last week I’ve got to do the qualifying for the 

AIG Women’s British Open but I’m in now, so how cool is 

that?

“It’s amazing to have these major opportunities now. I look 

forward to a couple of days of rest and then it will all sink in.”

On being the first English winner since Georgia Hall: “To see 

the names on the trophy is awesome. I’m so proud to be on 

there too now.”

Amelia Garvey, New Zealand

“I gave it everything. I left it all out there which is all I can ask 

for. I’m really proud of the way I played. It’s been an amazing 

week.

“Emily played incredibly well especially down the stretch. 

She slipped up once on 16 with a three putt but apart from 

that she didn’t miss many fairways or make many mistakes.

“I really wanted to win but playing in front of all those people 

and just getting to the final was a great thrill. This is my best 

achievement in golf so far and gives me a lot of confidence 

going forward.”

The Women’s Amateur Championship

The Women’s Amateur Championship, originally known as the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship, was founded in 1893 by the Ladies’ Golf Union and was first played at Royal Lytham and St Annes. The elite amateur event attracts leading players from across the world.