Welsh Duo Win Dream Place At AIG Women’s Open Pro-Am At Royal Porthcawl

By Hamish Stuart

The North Wales pairing of Debbie Roberts and Heather Wathan produced a remarkable performance to win the 2024 Coronation Foursomes Grand Final in St Andrews.

On a cold but still day at the home of golf, the pair from Barons Hill Golf Club triumphed in the popular championship for women and girls’ golfers across Great Britain and Ireland – by scoring 50 stableford points.

Roberts, 70, and Wathan, 63, gelled expertly to record the brilliant points tally playing off their 32 Handicap Index over the Eden Course for a six-point victory among the 16 competing pairs.

“We’re just amazed,” said Debbie.

“The fact we have scored 50 points is incredible. The undulating greens can make you look quite silly but the ball disappeared in the hole for us so often. Somebody was looking down on us and looking after us today!”

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As part of their prize, the winners sealed a dream place in the Pro-Am for the AIG Women’s Open on home soil in Wales at Royal Porthcawl next August.

Debbie, who also reached the Coronation Foursomes Grand Final in 2008 with another partner, added, “It will be amazing at Royal Porthcawl. We’re taking it all in just now – it’s been an amazing day for the oldies!”

The unique team competition format of the Coronation Foursomes – the largest of its kind in GB&I that attracted entries from over 20,000 women and girls from over 1,100 clubs in 2024 – sees club qualifying and Area Finals each year ahead of a Grand Final.

Having won the North Area Final at Hazel Grove in Lancashire, Roberts and Wathan maintained their form in St Andrews.

A beautiful nine-hole course, Barons Hill is located on the outskirts of the idyllic town of Beaumaris on the Isle of Anglesey and Heather said, “It’s a very tough nine holes, a heathland course, and one of the oldest in Wales – it gave us good preparation for today.”

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Heather, who made her first-ever visit to St Andrews, added, “The golfing gods were with us today. I’ve enjoyed the home of golf and been texting and messaging our fellow club members back at Barons Hill about our experience.”

Helen Barrett and Penny Toal from South Staffordshire finished in second place on an impressive 44 points after card countback (back nine), with Joanne McCloskey and Chrissi Munro (Kippie Sports and Leisure) taking third sport, also on 44 points.

The 32 finalists in St Andrews also enjoyed a two-night stay at the prestigious Old Course Hotel Golf Resort & Spa and a drinks reception at The R&A World Golf Museum.

“It’s been phenomenal,” continued Debbie. “It’s such a wonderful prize to be here in St Andrews. We’ve been made to feel really special.”

As part of The R&A’s drive to encourage more women and girls into playing golf, the championship continues to attract all ages.

Established in 1953, the Coronation Foursomes is open to all members of affiliated golf clubs in GB&I who hold a hold a current World Handicap System (WHS) Index of 40.0 or under.

Perched on the west side of the Links, views across the Eden Estuary and beyond into Fife's rolling hills are in abundance from The Strathtyrum Course.

Turn around for a moment and you'll see golf's most famous silhouette.#StAndrews #TheHomeofGolf #TheStrathtyrumCourse pic.twitter.com/SaYmF4hPDC

— St Andrews Links (@TheHomeofGolf) September 20, 2024

For 2024 qualifying, local qualifying competitions – stand alone or played alongside an existing fixture – were organised by golf clubs, playing over 18 holes of handicap stableford foursomes.

Mothers and daughters, friends and family members all teed up – all for just £4 per pair.

The best 100 scores then qualified for each Area Final held at 16 venues in July and August, before the top 16 teams booked their trip to the home of golf for the showpiece final.

Those taking part in the Grand Final included 16-year-old Eilidh Flanagan from Lochgilphead.

For more information and final scores please visit: www.randa.org/championships/coronation-foursomes

Tickets for the AIG Women’s Open, including premium hospitality options, are now on sale and start from just £20.

Children aged 16 years or under before the Championship are admitted free of charge on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. On those same days, spectators aged 24 years or under will be entitled to purchase youth (16-24 years) tickets which have a 50% discount.

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