Nairn, Scotland: Paula Martin Sampedro emerged victorious from an absorbing contest with Farah O’Keefe to claim The 122nd Women’s Amateur Championship.

In a captivating duel of the highest standard, Martin Sampedro won by a 2&1 margin to become the sixth Spanish champion and the first since Azahara Muñoz in 2009.

As well as etching her name on to a roll of honour of considerable distinction, the 19-year-old from Madrid has secured places in the field of The Amundi Evian Championship and AIG Women’s Open this summer, as well as the Chevron Championship and US Women’s Open in 2026.

Martin Sampedro will also, by tradition, receive an invitation to compete in next year’s Augusta National Women's Amateur and will be given the opportunity to play in a Ladies’ European Tour event.

The spoils of success were richly deserved. Martin Sampedro, ranked 12th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), was eight-under-par for the 35 holes it took her to stave off the spirited challenge of American O’Keefe.

Martin Sampredo said: “It honestly doesn’t feel real yet. I feel like I played pretty solid golf, but the match was super tight all the way. I knew it was going to come down to the last few holes so I stayed patient and it went my way.

“I feel like we both played great to the level of a final of The Women’s Amateur. I think we both need to be super happy but I’m definitely excited to call myself a champion. I think it’s going to take a while to just sink in.”

O’Keefe was philosophical in defeat. She said: “I’m not sour about it. It’s a second-place finish. It’s really good. I’m proud of it and looking forward to the future.

“I’ve had a lot of second-place finishes this year. There are two things that you can do. You can get really frustrated and try to force things to happen or rely on your skills and try to get better. My time’s coming. I just have to be patient.”

The final was a match that was a wonderful advert for women’s amateur golf and one that provided the large following of spectators with a spectacle to savour.

O’Keefe and Martin Sampedro, the last two players standing from a starting field of 144 representing over 30 countries, were swiftly into their stride during a delightful morning on the Moray coast.

Over the opening six holes, O’Keefe, the 20-year-old world number eight, and Martin Sampedro traded six birdies during a period of back and forward which set the tone for a terrific contest. Both players demonstrated class, control and craft as they conjured a total of 10 birdies, 26 pars and no bogeys in a fascinating morning session which finished all-square.

Martin Sampedro was never behind but never more than one-hole ahead while events on the 16th underlined the quality of the tussle. Leading by one hole at that point, Martin Sampedro’s escape from the bunker was sublime as she splashed out to within a foot of the hole. O’Keefe responded in style, however, and rolled in a birdie putt from 15 feet with authority to haul herself back to all-square.

Ahead of the afternoon round, the finalists were piped on to the first tee and Martin Sampedro wasted no time in hitting the high notes herself as a deft chip from the side of the green grazed the hole. O’Keefe stumbled to the first bogey of the day and the Spaniard was one-up.

Her advantage was fleeting, however, and having taken three to extricate herself from a bunker on the 21st – it would lead to her only bogey of the 35 holes contested – O’Keefe restored parity.

The match remained intriguingly poised but Martin Sampedro made a telling advance when she chipped in for a birdie on the 24th and followed it up with a 15-foot birdie putt on the next to move into a two-hole lead.

O’Keefe, who had been four-down with just five to play in her semi-final, showed her resolve again and a 25-footer for birdie on the 27th reduced the leeway.

A superbly flighted five-iron into the 28th came to rest within a couple of feet and, after Martin Sampedro had made her birdie, O’Keefe’s superb eagle tied the match again.

There would be more twists and turns to come. On the uphill 31st, O’Keefe saw two approaches roll back down the slope and despite limiting the damage to a bogey, Martin Sampedro inched ahead with a par. O’Keefe’s challenge unravelled on the run-in and her two-footer to halve the 32nd lipped out as Martin Sampedro increased her advantage.

O’Keefe had a glorious opportunity to claim a hole back at the 33rd but another short putt lipped out and Martin Sampedro moved to the cusp of victory. Success was sealed on the 35th as the Spaniard calmly putted out for a par to land one of the most prestigious titles in the women’s amateur game.