IN-FORM Dorset star Georgia Hall came within a whisker of claiming another Curtis Cup scalp in the English Women’s Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale.

Hall, overlooked for the Great Britain and Ireland team to face the USA next month, lost a sudden-death play-off with Curtis Cup member Kelly Tidy.

In a dramatic final day, the lead changed hands on several occasions before Tidy birdied the last hole on her home course.

The 20-year-old former British Ladies Open Amateur champion, who carded rounds of 78, 74, 71 and 81, went on to sink a 25-foot birdie putt at the first extra hole.

Both players, who finished on four over par, were three shots ahead of another Curtis Cup player Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa).

“It is the first time I have played Royal Birkdale, while Kelly has been a member for five years, so I guess she had a bit of an advantage. But I can’t argue about how she won with two birdies, so well done to her,” said Hall, who carded rounds of 77, 74, 75 and 78.

Since being snubbed for the eight-strong Curtis Cup team, 16-year-old Hall, from Remedy Oak, has become one of the country’s most consistent performers.

In less than two months, she has reached the last four of the French Under-21 Girls Open and become the youngest-ever winner of the Roehampton Gold Cup.

Hall was also joint winner of the Hampshire Rose and finished third in the Welsh Women’s Strokeplay Championship earlier this month.

“I’ve moved on from the disappointment of not making the team and look forward to proving myself further in other events,” said Hall, who is a reserve for the Curtis Cup on June 8-10 at Nairn in Scotland.