LG Meets: Lancashire teenager Sophie Lamb
It was bound to happen sooner rather than later. Sophie Lamb won her first women’s title – and the British strokeplay championship no less – when she was the only player in the field to beat par at Knock in September.
She saw off an August lineup in Belfast to take the trophy back to Clitheroe and, at 18, has already moved to a handicap of plus four. At her young age, it may have been a win to raise an eyebrow among some in the amateur elite.
But should anyone really have been surprised? The Lancashire teenager has been the epitome of consistency this season, knocking on the door with top performances in the English amateur, matchplay and strokeplay championships. Now an established part of the England set up, the sky appears to be the limit for Lamb.
So what’s on the agenda? LG finds out she has some high profile mountains still to conquer…
Congratulations on winning the British strokeplay.
You’ve been so consistent recently you were probably due a big win…
I had quite a few top 10’s in the last few big events but I didn’t get the win – so it was nice to do that, although I didn’t go into the week expecting it. I just did my own thing.
I started off the season a little bit up and down. I had a few swing changes and I didn’t grasp it all straight off. I’m with Graham Walker (England coach) and we’ve been working to be a bit more consistent and a bit more powerful.
Was there anything that just clicked your game into place?
There wasn’t, really. I’ve just kept working at it. I have got a lot of trust in my coach and know he wouldn’t do anything that he didn’t think wouldn’t work out.
You were the only player under par at Knock. How tough were conditions?
The course was very tight off the tee. If you weren’t on the fairway then you were struggling. The first round I was four over and I struggled off the tee. That’s usually my strength so I went to the range with my dad (Phil, and caddie for the week) afterwards. The rest of my game was pretty good and I worked on getting a stock shot. I knew if I started hitting fairways I would be able to score.
On the second day, I decided to enjoy it and see what happened. The last day we played 36 holes and, in the final round, I started with nine straight pars and didn’t really hole any putts. On the 10th, I made bogey and I three-putted the 11th for a double. It wasn’t really going my way. I just managed to make a few birdies coming in. I birdied the par 3 and 14 and 17 on the way in.
I was playing with Alessia (Nobilio, leader going into the last day) and I knew I was beating her but I didn’t know what the players behind me were doing. We said just to keep playing our game, finish under par and I knew that wouldn’t be far away.
How does it feel to have done it?
It hasn’t really sunk in. My mum and sister were on a flight to Spain and I had to wait two hours before I could ring them. I couldn’t really believe it. It’s great for my confidence. The last individual thing I won was at Fairhaven as a junior and it is nice to get something in the bigger events.
You were part of England’s Home Internationals winning squad at Conwy…
I played last year at Wimbledon as well when I was one of the youngsters. When the top players are there you feel a bit like ‘can I be here? Am I good enough to be here?’
Everyone was young last year and we were all supporting each other. Everyone wanted to win and we all wanted to prove hat it doesn’t matter how old you are. We had a really good team spirit and everyone supported each other 100 per cent. We all just focused on what we could control and focused on getting a good team spirit and we took that onto this team.
Some of the team’s senior members – like Bronte Law – will be moving on to the pro ranks. Does that give you an opportunity?
I think Bronte’s going to the LPGA school. It gives you something to strive for and something to work hard towards.
Did you ever think about following Bronte to university in America?
I have got such a good relationship with my coach, I’ve got my parents and I like the team I have to work with. It (the USA) is four years going to the other side of the world – to meet a new coach and new players. Then I have to be in school. I think it would be a bit of a distraction.
What are your big targets for the next year or two?
I have just got to keep doing what I am doing and keep working on the things I can control. Your amateur career is very important but, in 10 years time, it doesn’t necessarily matter what you did in a lot of events now. It’s all about working towards where I want to be. I want to try and get in the Curtis Cup team in two years’ time. That’s one of my targets. It’s an aspiration and something I am definitely working towards.
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