Colin@scottishgolfview.com
US-based Northern Ireland teenager Stephanie Meadow, joint fourth at the weekend in a quality field for the South East Conference Women's Championship in Alabama, is maintaining her impressive form on the US women's college circuit.
The Alabama University rookie's spring semester form has been excellent with victories in the Lady Puerto Rico Classic and the Sugarbowl Intercollegiate plus a third place finish at the Liz Murphy Collegiate Classic, a fourth in the LSU Classic - and now a tied fourth at Auburn University Club, Alabama with rounds of 71, 73 and 71 for a one-under-par total of 215 - five shots behind the winner, Eric Popson (tenneseee) who shot 66, 74 and 70 over a par-72 course of 6,364yd. A reserve for last year's Great Britain and Ireland team for the Curtis Cup match in the States, Stephanie has an outstanding chance of being chosen to play in the Astor Trophy (formerly Commonwealth Tournament) agains Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa at Fairhaven GC, Lancashire in mid-June, followed within a few days by the Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe at Royal Porthcawl GC in South Wales.
It could be quite a month of June for Meadow as the British women's open amateur championship at the start of that month is being staged over her home course of Royal Portrush.Stephanie, pictured above in action at the South East Conference Championship, is No 24 in the Women's World Amateur Rankings and No 6 in Europe.
She was Irish girls champion in 2006 and beaten finalist in the same event the following year.
She has lived in the United States for the past few years in a bid to hasten her development as an interntional-class golfer - a family move that has paid off handsomely.
She was a student at the Hank Hainey International Junior Golf Academy in South Carolina before enrolling at Alabama University last August.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS AT THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
Auburn University Club, Alabama.
Par 216 (3x72). Yardage 6,364.
210 Erica Popson (Tennessee) 66 74 70.
211 Marta Silva (Georgia) 70 74 67.
214 Cydney Clanton (Auburn) 69 72 73.
215 Stephanie Meadow (Alabama) 71 73 71, Emily Tubert (Arkansas) 69 72 74
60 players in the field.
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
864 Auburn.
875 Alabama.
887 Louisian State University.
12 teams in the field.