Anna Foster’s run in the Women’s Amateur Championship came to a halt after she was beaten by Swedish star Louise Rydqvist in the quarter-finals in Portmarnock.
In front of a packed local crowd, Foster looked as if she was set to go the distance in yet another match when she made a par on 9 and birdie on 10 to go from 2DN to all square.
Momentum looked to be in favour of the Elm Park star as she looked to grab another Swedish scalp against the world number 28, but a three-putt bogey from over the back of the 12th green cost her a hole and a critical half an hour of sloppiness was compounded when she lost the par-5 13th to a par.
Rydqvist had shown a deft touch with the putter off the green and she safely two putted from the swail on the right of the par-3 15th before Foster played to 18 feet from the left bunker but was unable to make the putt for par.
Now three down with three to play, Foster (22), found the left fairway bunker and was still short of the green in four shots. An ambitious par attempt came close but the cap was off before Rydqvist could putt out for her five.
“Getting to the quarter finals I would have bitten your hand off and to be the last Irish girl for a few rounds felt special, having all the support down here and from Elm Park, I really enjoyed it,” said Foster.
“It was meant to be for Louise, she didn’t really make a mistake, but I’m happy enough.”
The world number 108 had taken out world number nine Meja Ortengren who was second qualifier behind world number one Lottie Woad on the 19th hole and she admitted the intensity of last evening’s match had perhaps caught up with her down the closing stretch where she had previously been so gutsy.
“There definitely was fatigue but I feel anyone who was left at this point was going to be fatigued. It was more just the adrenaline was getting me through. But it is hard to focus and stay locked in when you feel like you have lived out here for the week to be honest!” she laughed.
