Nikki Foster wins Royal Birkdale Scratch Trophy
31st August 2010

Nikki Foster - (Photo Leaderboard Photography and EWGA)

England international Nikki Foster scored a splendid 36-hole total of eight-under par to win the Royal Birkdale Scratch Trophy by one shot.

The 18-year-old Lancashire player was three-shots off the pace after the first round, when Cheshire's Emma Goddard returned an excellent six-under 69. Another five players also held a one-shot advantange over Nikki at the halfway stage.

However she scored 70 in the second round to  overtake them all and move to the top of the leaderboard. Nikki has been on great form in strokeplay events this season and was runner-up in both the Helen Holm Scottish open strokeplay championship and in the Welsh open strokeplay, where she forced a play-off with a final round of five-under 69.

The top ten at Royal Birkdale included two other England internationals, Charley Hull and Charlotte Ellis, and the English girls' champion Elizabeth Mallett.

Leading final scores

Par 75, CSS 75 75
142 Nikki Foster (Pleasington) 72 70
143 Emma Goddard (Vale Royal Millennium) 69 74
144 Charley Hull (Woburn) 71 73; Pamela Pretswell (Scotland) 71 73; Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton)71 73
145 Elizabeth Mallett (Sutton Coldfield Ladies) 71 74
147 Nicola Rawlinson (Royal Birkdale) 72 75
148 Amy Boulden (Wales) 72 76
149 Sara Garbutt (Ganton) 71 78
151 Helen Butterfield (Sleaford) 7477

Full scores: www.royalbirkdale.com