By Ryan Herrington
It was all tied at 2-2 in the final of the NCAA Women’s Championship on Wednesday at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale between No. 1 Stanford and No. 2 Oregon, but there was an air of inevitability as well. Cardinal freshman Rose Zhang, the No. 1-ranked women’s amateur who won the NCAA individual title on Monday and the Annika Award for national college player of the year on Tuesday, held a 2-up lead over Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen with two holes to play in the fifth and deciding match. A miracle comeback would be needed to change the pending outcome.

Instead of a miracle, the Ducks stumbled upon a penalty stroke after a rare rules violation.

As Nielsen, using a push cart in the Arizona heat, was walking up toward her ball in the rough off the tee on the par-4 hole, she mistakenly ran over Zhang’s ball, which was also in the rough. Under the Rules of Golf, Nielsen had to add a one-stroke penalty to her score for violation Rule 9.5b, which states: “If the opponent lifts or deliberately touches the player’s ball at rest or causes it to move, the opponent gets one penalty stroke.”

The rules official informed Nielsen and Zhang of the penalty after both hit their second shots, Zhang on the green but 40 feet from the hole Nielsen short left of the green facing a tricky pitch.

The individual champion delivers the team championship for @StanfordWGolf!

?: Golf Channel | @Stifel pic.twitter.com/jNL1YTm2Wa

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) May 26, 2022

Nielsen, now hitting her fourth shot, left the ball 14 feet short of the hole and failed to make what was officially her bogey putt. When Zhang two-putted for par, she had clinched the match, 3 and 1, and earned the winning point for the Cardinal.

“I just reminded Rose that nobody wants a tournament to end that way, but it didn’t,” Stanford head coach Anne Walker said afterwards. “At the end of the day, Sofie made 5, Rose made 4, and I want that to be for both Sofie and Rose to be the focus because no one wants a title to end that way.”

Interestingly, the penalty is only applicable in match play. The penalty was put into place during the most recent update of the Rules of Golf in 2019.

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The post Rare rules mishap adds to drama to NCAA Women’s Championship appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The newest member of The Els Club, Dubai performance academy team is passionate about introducing more women to golf

By Kent Gray
Amy Millward is on a mission to make the Claude Harmon 3 Performance Golf Academy, Dubai the hub of women’s golf growth in the region.

The 24-year-old has just joined the CH3 team at The Els Club, Dubai and arrives with a freshly minted ‘Professional Golf Studies’ degree from the University of Birmingham after coaching stints in the U.K and Switzerland.

Millward is also a Love.Golf coach and an energised disciple of a programme that is bringing ground-breaking research to women’s golf coaching.

Whereas newbies are typically plonked on the range for week upon week and run through the fundamentals of the game, Love.Golf coaching predominately takes place on the golf course (or a shortened course). This allows players “to learn how women want to learn in a group environment free from any dress codes or unnecessary rules.”

“We don’t just want to make you [new players] have a golf swing. We want to make you a golfer,” says Millward.

Seeing new and more established players improve has become more than just a job for Millward who calls the small English town of Cleobury Mortimer home. Her “passion” is now the fuel of a new initiative at The Els Club, Dubai where the CH3 team plan to turn Tuesday into an exclusive ladies day, with lessons, competitions, range time as well as social experiences spread across the day and evening.

The CH3 ladies programme will offer three types of classes – ‘Explorers’, ‘Players’ and ‘Competitors’. Millward will be on hand for two ‘Taster Days’ in October and November to run curious or intending players through the ropes.

The introduction sessions, both running from 10am to noon, are scheduled for October 15 and November 12 and will be followed by refreshments. Email Millward at amy@ch3performancegolf.com to reserve your place.

Myself, The Els Club and Claude Harmon III Performance Golf Academy are delighted to announce our new LADIES PROGRAMME!!

We are hosting a LADIES TASTER DAY on Tuesday 15th October from 10am to 12pm.

Our Ladies… https://t.co/JSr4oiK6ZX

— Amy Millward (@amymillward4) September 29, 2019

The post VIDEO: New CH3 coach Amy Millward takes aim at lady golfers with Love.Golf appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The caddy was attended to by the event’s onsite medical team near the 13^th green on Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course just after 10am Wednesday (UAE time) before being rushed to hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Attempts were being made to notify the bagman’s family.

Caudal, who was paired with American Blair O’Neal and Scot Carly Booth, was comforted by tournament director Michael Wood (pictured above) as the tragedy played out just four holes into their opening round.

“Everyone at the Ladies European Tour is extremely shocked and saddened today by this sudden death and therefore we have taken the decision to suspend first round play as a mark of respect,” Ladies European Tour CEO Ivan Khodabakhsh said.

“On behalf of our membership, we offer heartfelt condolences to the individual’s family and loved ones.”

Tough start today for our group to experience something so horrendous.Thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Max ?#sadday

— Carly Booth (@CarlyBooth92) December 7, 2016

Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice chairman and CEO of tournament organizer and promoter ‘golf in DUBAi’ said: “We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of this caddie. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time. May his soul rest in peace.”

Round one was officially suspended at 10.30am and will resume on Thursday morning with the season ending event now to be decided over 54 holes.

The post Dubai Ladies Masters rocked by death of caddy appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.