Scottish Golf, 16 April 2025
Grace Crawford is eager to return to the scene of her greatest victory this week and tee it up in a special champions’ group at the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open.
For the first time since she won the title as a 15-year-old in 2022, the East Lothian golfer’s school schedule has allowed her to register at Royal Troon for this week’s 54-hole stroke play event (18-20 April).
Three years ago, a closing four-under par round of 68 over the Old Course at Royal Troon gave the young Scot a stunning four-shot victory over England’s Thalia Kirby.
In winning, Crawford was the only player under par for her three rounds and became the first Scot in 20 years to lift the title.
This week, Crawford will line up alongside the 2023 champion Jasmine Mackintosh and last year’s winner Ellie Monk (pictured below) for the first two rounds played over Royal Troon’s Portland Course.
VISIT THE CHAMPIONSHIP HOMEPAGE
Leading female amateurs from 15 different nations will be in Ayrshire to contend for the famous and distinctive trophy.
The chance for some champion chat with her playing partners and the general buzz of being back at the Helen Holm has Crawford excited for the three-day tournament.
Crawford is part of the Albany Golf Academy based in the Bahamas and for the past two years school commitments precluded her from playing in this event.
Now she’s back, the 18-year-old is hoping to make up for lost time.
She said:
“I’m really looking forward to being back and playing at the Helen Holm.
“The way the school year worked I haven’t been able to play since winning but it’s good things have turned in my favour this year.
“I was only 15 when I won in 2022 and while I had talent and a level of skill, I feel that I’m going back a better player.
“I have more knowledge about the game and I feel my technique is in a much better place.
“That final day in 2022 went better than I could have hoped.
“It was a tough, windy day, but I just felt in total control of my game and was able to stick to my gameplan to win.
“A week later I won the R&A Girls’ Under 16s at Enville so I was clearly in good form.
“I’ve picked up a lot of experience in those three years since I last played at Troon and matured on and off the course.
“It will be good to play with Jasmine and Ellie – I know them both and it should be a fun group.”
Crawford’s last tournament was in December when she won the prestigious Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship at Quinta do Lago in Portugal.
That was a fitting way to mark her final event as a junior and it heralded a big year for the 18-year-old who will head to the University of Alabama in August to begin her US college career.
Crawford added:
“I have good memories from the Justin Rose event and I’ve been working hard over the winter.
“It will be good to test my game at the Helen Holm.
“I have college to look forward to this year and some more women’s events over the summer, hopefully.
“I’ve been living away from home on the other side of the world now for a few years so maybe college won’t feel like such a big step, but I’m ready for the fresh challenge.”
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A total of 120 players will tee it up this week on Royal Troon’s links aiming to win an event that was first played in 1973.
The championship is named after five-times Scottish champion Helen Holm who also played twice in the Curtis Cup and was a trailblazer for women golfers throughout her long and distinguished amateur career.
THE FORMAT
The Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Championship is open to female amateur golfers of all nationalities. The Championship consists of 54 holes of stroke play, contested over three days.
A maximum of 120 players will play 18 holes on each of the first two days on the Royal Troon Portland golf course.
After 36 holes, the leading 60 competitors and ties returning the lowest gross scores, will play a further 18 holes on the third day on the Royal Troon Old Course to determine the champion.
Previous winners of the event include star names who have gone on to enjoy success in the professional ranks including Catriona Matthew, Mhairi McKay, Mel Reid, Leona Maguire, Linn Grant and Pia Babnik.
