Tiffany Mills wins Irish open

Norfolk  player has secured a stunning victory at the The Royal County Down Scratch Open.

Tiffany Mills’ incredible performance at her first overseas competition in Ireland, saw her win at Royal County Down, a top 10 ranked course in the world.

The 2024 County Champion and Vice-County Captain has represented Norfolk for many years, with her home club at Ryston Park plays off a handicap of +1.3. 

‘Winning the Norfolk County Championship made me start believing in myself more boosted my confidence. I began to think that maybe I could really compete in big competitions and not just be there to make up the numbers,’ said Tiffany, who has a day job as green keeper at Ryston Park Golf Club.  

The day of the competition in Ireland was sunny but with a strong Westerly breeze. ‘I started from the 10th tee, a 172-yard par 3 with a cross wind! A lovely hole to start on for the first swing of the day! A dodgy 5 iron to just miss one of the many angry looking bunkers, but an up and down soon restored some faith,’ she said.

Tiffany had been given an invaluable tip by a member of the pro shop team at the club who advised her to play short of the holes and putt her way round the course. So this was the gameplan Tiffany devised, in collaboration with her longtime caddy and friend Ann Fletcher who has been alongside her for the past 15 years. 

 ‘We carried out this gameplan as best as we could. However, an errant tee shot on the 4th hole (a par 3 and my 14th hole) saw my tee shot plug into a bunker, a triple bogey 6 that thought had ended my hope of winning.’

‘But deep down I knew this was a tough course and everyone is bound to struggle at some stage, so I decided not to give up and ended the 1st round at 3 over par. I was happy with this score because I had never played or walked the course before.’

Tiffany was joint leader after the first round’s play and managed to keep her game together, despite being a little rusty as she hadn’t played competitively since the County Finals in Devon, back in September.

‘After the game we sat in the clubhouse, and I thought I'd blown it. The results were announced in reverse order and my name still wasn't mentioned, so my heart started to pound, and my brain started to wonder what was going on.’

‘Then they announced I had won, and it was an amazing feeling,’ said Tiffany. “an honoured to win at such a prestigious golf course, a huge confidence boost for the season ahead.”

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