Perth amateur Kirsten Rudgeley has qualified to play in her first major, playing her way into the field for the AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie in Scotland this week.

The 20-year-old Mt Lawley product shot a one-under par 69 at nearby Panmure Golf Club to take one of the 15 spots available in the field for Carnoustie links this week.

Rudgeley has had an outstanding trip to the United Kingdom this year with wins in the English Women’s Amateur and the Helen Holm Women’s Open. She is a member of Golf Australia’s Karrie Webb Scholarship squad for 2021.

She will tee it up on Thursday at Carnoustie alongside a bunch of Australians including fellow Perth players Hannah Green, Minjee Lee, Whitney Hillier.

Rudgeley was runner-up in the Australian Women’s Amateur this year and has won three Western Australian Amateur titles. She said afterward that the family had made the trip to the UK to catch up with relatives as well as for her to play some top amateur events.

“My granddad, Alf, is 102 and he lives in Southend,” she said. “It was nice to see him and come over and play a bunch of tournaments. I’ve done pretty well in the events and it’s been nice to travel from Australia and be competitive again.

“I was born in London, but left when I was about four. I don’t really sound English at all! I’ve lived my life over there, growing up in Perth. I had my Royal Troon jumper on today, my mum bought it for me after my win there in the Helen Holm. I always try and get something from where I’ve been.

“It will be an awesome experience to play at Carnoustie. I was pretty nervous for the qualifying at Panmure, knowing there were only 15 spots available.

“The way I’ve been playing I felt confident and it was good to do it. I know Hannah Green and Minjee Lee are playing in the event as well. I’ve walked a few holes at Carnoustie before, when I was at a previous amateur event in Scotland, we had a stroll over the links.”