Ferguson-Snedden makes it three at Scottish Senior Women’s Open

Aboyne Golf Club, set in stunning Aberdeenshire countryside, played host to a thrilling four-day Senior Women’s Open this week.

Nadene Gole from Australia powered through to the lead in the first two stroke play rounds, holding a three-under-par score and an eight-shot lead over the rest of the field courtesy of eight birdies, totalling 68 and 73.

Gole’s form held for the first match play round, beating Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch) 3&2, but her campaign ended with a head-to-head with Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) – the 2018 and 2019 champion. Moffat progressed to the semi-final but Lanark’s Ruth Hunter dispatched her with a 2&1 victory.

Also finding her form in the match play was defending champion Karen Ferguson-Snedden (Mortonhall), whose initial stroke play round scores saw her placed T8 after two rounds (+8). 

Elaine Moffat and Ruth Hunter battled it out (Hunter ultimately triumphing) and in an exact replica semi-final of 2022, Karen Ferguson-Snedden fought 2022 Stroke Play Champion Sue Wooster.

In the end, it was the defending champion who pipped Wooster to the final, lining up a tight head-to-head with Ruth Hunter.

The final was evenly balanced until the 12^th, when Ferguson-Snedden edged forward, going 2 up and retaining the lead until the 17^th, resulting in a 2&1 triumph.

Fiona Allison (Dumfries and County) emerged Handicap Match Play winner, and Nadene Gole (Australia) scooped the Stroke Play trophy.

Commenting on her performance, Ferguson-Snedden said:

“Great event really enjoyed playing it, obviously. It’s a lovely venue - quite tricky to score sometimes on some of the holes … especially as I’m struggling to find the planet with my driver so I’m having to rely on my approach play a lot, do what I could do.

“Didn’t putt great on the qualifying either but found something in my putting for the match play and did pretty well in that. But surprised to win (for the third time!) and come through to be honest, knowing how bad I was driving coming in, I had a bit of trepidation about it but I managed to just get stuff in play and get it done.”

Ruth Hunter, 2023 runner up commented:

“This is the first time I’ve qualified for the match play stages, so I’m delighted to have made it to the final. I really enjoyed coming to the Seniors, it’s been fantastic to reconnect with old friends and make some new ones. Particularly this year it’s been a strong international presentation, great to have Karen and me representing Scotland in the final. Delighted with my performance, got a few things to work on and I plan on coming back next year.”

Scottish Golf would like to thank Aboyne Golf Club for their stellar hospitality over the four-day championship.

Scottish Golf Events team added:

“Everything here has been wonderfully organised – the hospitality, the condition of the course, everything has been a real pleasure to work on. Thank you Aboyne.”

View the full leaderboard from the Scottish Senior Women's Open here.