University of Stirling student wins by two shots to take the biggest amateur title of her career
Grace Bowen has won the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Championship at Royal Troon, finishing five under par to beat Ireland’s Jessica Ross by two shots.
The University of Stirling student, from Droitwich, carded rounds of 71-69-71 across Royal Troon’s Portland Course and the Old Course to secure the biggest victory of her career so far. Ross, a regular at the event since 2013, pushed hard in the final round with a brilliant 68, but her eagle attempt from 140 yards on the last — which struck the pin — turned into a birdie and left the gap at two.
Bowen had moved clear with a second-round 69 that left her five shots ahead of the field — the only player under par after 36 holes. Ross closed to within two on the back nine of the final day, but a greenside bunker at 17 ended her challenge.
“To win a stroke play event of this importance is the best victory to date,” said Bowen. “Jess made it really difficult for me today, but I’m so proud to have won.”
The maths undergraduate, who won a Student Tour Series event in Spain earlier this year and finished runner-up at the English Women’s Amateur at Royal Liverpool in 2025, joins Mel Reid, Annabell Dimmock and Lily May Humphreys among English winners of the Helen Holm. As a counting event for the new European Amateur Order of Merit, the title also brings an invitation to a LETAS event.
France’s Emilie Knai finished third at four over par, with New Zealand’s Caitlin Maurice a shot further back. The performance of the week among the home contingent came from 13-year-old Blairgowrie member Stella Walters, who closed with a 71 — including a birdie at the Postage Stamp — to finish ninth. England won the team prize, the International Cup, through the combined scores of Lily Hirst and Elizabeth Wilson.
The 120-player field represented 15 nations. The opening two days on the Portland Course were played in wind and heavy rain; the final round brought blue skies on a course that has hosted 10 Open Championships.
