Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open set to get underway in Troon this Easter weekend

A strong international field is set to gather on the west coast of Scotland for this year’s Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Championship. The three-day stroke play event will take place from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 April with Royal Troon hosting.

The format of the event will be two rounds of qualifying stroke play over Royal Troon Portland Course with the top 60 and ties making it through to Sunday’s final round on Royal Troon Old Course.

In 2021, it was Australia’s Kirsten Rudgley who came out on top to claim the title. Rudgley started the final round last year four shots adrift, but a stunning bogey-free round of 66 (-6) saw her claim a one-shot victory over Scotland’s Hannah Darling and England’s Emily Toy.

The list of past winners is an illustrious one, with the likes of Belle Robertson, Melissa Reid, Leona Maguire, and Amy Boulden all having their names on the trophy.

In 2019, Slovenia’s Pia Babnik won the title at just 15 years old. Since then, Babnik went on to turn professional in 2020 and has already won twice on the Ladies European Tour.

This year will mark 20 years since a Scot last won the Helen Holm when Heather Stirling lifted the trophy in 2002.

One Scot who will be looking to end that 20-year drought will be Louise Duncan, fresh off competing at the Augusta Women’s National Amateur Championship. Last year, Duncan won the 2021 R&A Women’s Amateur title and followed that up with a stunning performance at the AIG Women’s Open where she finished in a tie for 10th.

Lorna McClymont will also be hoping for a big week at Troon after recently winning a third straight event in the R&A Student Series and claiming the Order of Merit title.

Following a top-Scot performance at the Scottish Girls’ Open last week, finishing 9th overall, Grace Crawford will be in the field again this week and looking to build on a positive performance at Irvine.

A full list of tee times for Friday’s opening round can be found here.

Preview by Scottish Golf