Stephanie holds her nerve on last to become first Lady

STEPHANIE MEADOW, a 19-year-old from Jordanstown, near Belfast, yesterday won the Lady Puerto Rico Classic women’s college golf tournament in her first year as a student at the University of Alabama.

Stephanie, who moved with her family to the US when she was 14 to enhance her golf prospects, won a host of American junior tournaments as a pupil at the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Named as a reserve to last year’s GB and Ireland team for the Curtis Cup match at Essex County Club, Massachusetts, Stephanie’s victory will enhance her prospects of a first GB & I cap in the Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe at Royal Porthcawl in June.

She had rounds of 73, 70 and 69 for a four-under-par total of 212 at Rio Mar Country Club, San Juan.

Stephanie, joint leader after the first two rounds, had five birdies in her final round but it was her sub-par figures at the 13th, 15th and 17th which enabled her to regain the advantage from Maria Salinas (Florida State), who finished one stroke behind the Irish woman.

Salinas ran up a bogey at the last, which Meadow parred to claim victory.

Meadow also led the Alabama squad – the Crimson Tide – to victory in the team event.

Four Alabama players finished inside the top 14 and they won the team title by five shots from Iowa State with Florida State third in a field of 18 teams.

Leading final totals: Par 216 (3x72)

212 S Meadow (Alabama) 73 70 69.

213 M Salinas (Florida State) 71 73 69.

214 M Silva Zamora (Georgia) 76 68 70.