Charlotte Naughton added another great performance to her 2025 CV as she finished runner-up in The R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship at Conwy – as Lily Reitter lifted the trophy.
Lily, 16, forged a commanding 5up lead over Longhirst Hall-based Charlotte during the opening 18 holes of the final, and held off a charge from Charlotte in the afternoon – which included seven birdies in 10 holes – to win the final 4&2 in the 96th staging of the championship.
Charlotte, the winner of the German Girls’ International Amateur Championship earlier this season, was 5dn through six hole in the morning before making five birdies in six holes to reduce the deficit to two. Having lost holes late in the first round, she rallied again in the afternoon before ultimately conceding the 34th hole of the low-scoring match.
The trophy, and the rewards that come with victory, ultimately belonged to Lily. As well as etching her name on to the roll of honour, she earned invitations to next year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur, The Women’s Amateur Championship and the US Girls’ Junior Championship. She also gets an exemption into Final Qualifying for the AIG Women’s Open.
“I’m so proud of myself,” said Lily after becoming he first French champion since Alexandra Bonetti in 2010. “I did have a big lead through 18 but it’s always tough to maintain that kind of advantage. I always prefer to be in a spot where I’m chasing.
“Charlotte really is impressive, and it was a pleasure to battle it out against her. During that stretch of holes when we were throwing birdies at each other, I was thinking, ‘oh my goodness, can you stop making as many putts as me.’ She put up a great fight.”
Charlotte conceded that she gave herself an uphill task but was proud with the determined fight she put up. “I did give myself a bit too much to do,” she said. “But I tried my best. The way I played in the afternoon, I could’ve won it on another day. I had a hard run of matches this week, playing two of my England teammates, so it’s been physically and emotionally hard too; but I’m proud of myself.”
Next year’s Girls’ Amateur Championship will take place at Craigielaw in East Lothian on August 10-15.
For final scores from the Girls’ Amateur Championship, click here.
