Aline Krauter holds the spoils of victory after winning the 117th Women’s British Amateur on Saturday (photo courtesy of the R&A).

By Ryan Herrington
Standing 3 down through four holes in the 18-hole final of the 117th Women’s British Amateur, Aline Krauter had reason to be nervous on Saturday at West Lancashire near Liverpool. Ranked 71st in the world, the 20-year-old from Germany had played well in her two seasons to date at Stanford but had yet to claim a confidence-boosting individual title. Meanwhile, her opponent, England’s Annabell Fuller, ranked 41st, a member of the 2018 GB&I Curtis Cup team and winner the previous week of the English Women’s Amateur, looked poised to build on her early momentum.

Still, Krauter carried a sense of calm. “I felt under control out there,” she said. “I’m not sure what did the trick, but I was quite unphased on the course, which I think helped me in the wind and the conditions. It was so fun to play in the final.”

Indeed, whatever it was proved to be enough. Krauter proceeded to win six of the next eight holes—three with birdies—then held off a final charge from Fuller, 18, to take the title with a 1-up victory.

“It was a rough start, but I knew that I had my game and I had played well all week,” Krauter said. “I wasn’t really worried at that time.”

No doubt Krauter took some inspiration from countrywoman Sophia Popov, who came from out of nowhere to win the AIG Women’s British Open six days earlier at Royal Troon. In February, before the COVID-19 outbreak, the pair went through a club fitting session together.

“I watched Sophia win last week, it was amazing,” Krauter said.

Krauter is the second German to win the Women’s British Amateur title in three years, following Leonie Harm’s inspiring win in 2018 after nearly losing her life in a car accident in 2013.

With the victory, Krauter earns an exemption into next year’s Women’s British Open at Carnoustie. The Women’s British Amateur winner also typically gets a spot in the U.S. Women’s Open and the Evian Championship.

This year’s event had been previously scheduled for June but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and played without spectators.