A former Bedford Girls School student has won a unique golf tournament in the United States after claiming top spot in the Underrated Tour’s closing event in California.
Roisin Scanlon’s stock has risen in the world of golf in recent years with a host of domestic age group titles, an appearance in the Rose Series and high places in the world renowned Amateur Championships, but now she has taken a step further by winning Stateside.
Scanlon won the five stage Girls Event with 1,216 points, well ahead of her closest rival, Julia Vollmer (836.66) and Nicole Sardinha (700.7) after competition wins in Las Vegas and Chambers Bay set her up nicely for the tour closer in San Francisco.
The 15-year old then secured the Curry Cup with victory at Lake Merced Golf Club after three rounds of 67, 73 and 76 led her to a one shot victory over her nearest challenger, Krishny Elwin.
The Underrated Golf Tour is the creation of NBA star, Steph Curry, the four-time NBA champion basketball star who plays for Golden State Warriors but is also well known as a very good golfer.
Balancing the playing field
His new Tour aims to redress the balance between what the Tour’s website describes as, “a predominantly white male sport” and the talent that exists in under represented groups.
The Tour describe themselves as a, “program that will balance the playing field for Black and LatinX communities” and in it’s second season, Scanlon scooped top prize, opening the door for her to become an Ambassador as the Tour aims to stage events in Europe next season.
There’s no doubting Scanlon’s dedication to the cause.
As well as making fortnightly trips to the United States, the teenager has also racked up a third place finish in the English Girls Under 16 tournament and has competed in the matchplay event of the R&A Girls Amateur Championship in the last month alone.
However, the success across the pond is perhaps her biggest achievement to date, but there’s very little rest for Scanlon.
She returns to the UK for a week before jetting off once more to Albany Bahamas where Scanlon has obtained a scholarship to study and play golf; the 600-acre site in the Caribbean the perfect preparation with more tournaments just around the corner.
