The Dixie Women’s Amateur was won by Mathilda Cappeliez in a three hole play-off, beating fellow French compatriot Justine Dreher, while England's India Clyburn finished a creditable tied 10th.
The Dixie Women’s Amateur was won by Mathilda Cappeliez, only 16 years of age - beating fellow French compatriot Justine Dreher with a birdie in a three hole sudden death play-off at TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs.
The first 54 holes of the traditional South Florida event were played at nearby Heron Bay Golf Club before the final round was moved to TPC Eagle Trace.
Both players finished the event at four-under 284 before entering the play-off. Cappeliez used the same momentum from a final-round 68 – a round that included a birdie at hole18 to enter the play-off – to outlast Dreher for medallist honours.
It is the second year in a row that a French player has won. Shannon Aubert was successful in the 2013 Dixie Women's Amateur. She too prevailed in a title play-off.
Cappeliez, 16, represented France at the 2013 Spirit International. She also qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open in the summer, where she finished T-59. Dreher, meanwhile, is a senior (fourth year) student at South Carolina University and won the individual title at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate in the autumn .Dreher helped lead the Gamecocks, No. 2 in Golfweek’s rankings, to two team titles.
Behind Cappeliez and Dreher, LSU’s Elise Bradley tied for third with Miami’s Daniela Darquea. Both finished the 72 holes at 2 under. Tiffany Chan, who plays for Daytona State Community College, tied for fifth with junior golfer Megan Khang. They were one under.
Scottish Under-21 girls' open champion India Clyburn (pictured) from Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, finished a creditable tied 10th after starting her campaign with an 80. The Woodhall Spa GC player, clawed her way up the leaderboard with subsequent rounds of 67 74 and 72 for a total of five-over-par 293 - the same total as former US Curtis Cup player Meghan Stasi (71-72-75-75).
Sammy Fuller (Roehampton) finished T51 on 309 with scores of 78, 74, 77 and 80.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS - Par 288 (4x72)
284 Mathilda Cappeliez (France) 73 71 72 68, Justine Dreher (France) 73 69 68 74 (Cappeliez won sudden-death play-off at the third extra hole)
286 Elise Bradley (USA) 71 67 74 74, Daniela Darquea (USA) 75 70 68 73
287 Tiffany Chan (USA) 73 71 72 71, Meghan Khang (USA) 72 71 74 70
SELECTED TOTALS
293 India Clyburn (England) 80 67 74 72, Meghan Stasi (USA) 71 72 75 75 (T10)
309 Sammy Fuller (England) 78 74 77 80 (T51)