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Krystle Caithness wins the St Rule Trophy 200605/06/2006

Local golfer Krystle Caithness yesterday won the St Rule Trophy with a superb score of 216, eleven under par. The 17-year-old, who is a member of the St Regulus club in St Andrews, held off the challenge of Germany's Katharina Schallenberg to win by one shot. Ireland claimed the team title.

Krystle scored a 71 on the New Course on Saturday, followed by rounds of 72 and 73 over the Old Course on Sunday. She later emphasised the importance of her putter in her triumph over the Links: 'I had only 27 putts on Saturday and then 29 and 32 in the two rounds over the Old Course.'

Her total was only one less than the record for the tournament, held by fellow Scot and now top professional player Catriona Matthew. Krystle also won the Everard Trophy for best finish by an under-18.

Katharina Schallenberg had a putt on the 54th hole to force a play off, but her 18-footer came up just short. The German, needing to score a 71 to tie, stormed out in 33 shots. However, in an eventful inward nine, birdies at the 10th and 17th were outdone by dropped shots at 11, 12 and 15, and she returned a four under par 72 to claim second place.

There was further disappointment for Katharina in the team event. Her Germany threesome lost out to Ireland by one shot. The Irish side of Claire Coughlan, Martina Gillan and Tricia Mangan, who came third in the St Rule Trophy, scored 441. Australia were third on 444
.