CARLOTA CIGANDA UNABLE

TO DEFEND BRITISH TITLE

AT NORTH BERWICK

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Only a day or two after the news came out that Carlota Ciganda, 17-year-old top-ranked European female amateur, had signed a Letter of Intent to enrol at Arizona State University in January 2009, comes the shock revelation that she will not be able to defend the British women's open amateur championship over the North Berwick links from June 11 to 15.

"Carlota would love to defend the title but she has a very important exam to sit in Spain at that time. We call it the 'selectivity' exam and unless she passes it she cannot go on to university," said Miguel Angel Caderot, the Royal Spanish Golf Federation's Press Officer.

The absence from the field of the impressive winner of the title at Alwoodley Golf Club, Leeds last June must be regarded as disappointing news for the Ladies Golf Union, organisers of this the premier women's individual amateur event in the British Isles.

But, at the same time, the non-entry of Carlota Ciganda opens the door to the possibility of a first British or Irish winner since Rebecca Hudson from Doncaster won the title for a second time at Ashburnham Golf Club, South Wales in 2002.

The last Scot to be crowned British amateur champion was Alison (Rose) Davidson from Stirling in 1997 at Cruden Bay where she beat Mhairi McKay (Turnberry) in the final.

Entries for the British women's open amateur championship at North Berwick close this coming Thursday (May 15).

+Copyright of the above image of Carlota Ciganda with the British championship trophy is retained by Cal Carson Golf Agency.