STIRLING STUDENTS STILL CHAMPIONS

 

 

 WIN OVER BIRMINGHAM IN WOODHALL SPA FINAL

 

Stirling University retained the British universities’ men’s team match-play championship. They beat Birmingham University 5-4 in the final at Woodhall Spa Golf Club to keep the Wallace Crinson Trophy in their possession for another year.

In the semi-finals, Stirling beat Exeter while Birmingham beat Northumbria.

In the final, Stirling took the morning foursomes 2-1, thanks to three consecutive birdies over the closing holes by Walker Cup player Richie Ramsay from Aberdeen and his partner, Scottish youth cap Euan Polson from Brora.

Gordon Yates and Paul Betty had comfortable wins for Stirling in the afternoon singles but Birmingham clawed their way back into contention by winning two ties and halving another.

That meant Birmingham could still salvage a drawn match and a share of the title if they won the final singles tie.

Stirling’s Blair Paterson, one down on the 18^th tee, after being three up with five holes to play, responded to the pressure. He kept his nerve and hit two great shots on the green at the par-5 hole. He then capped it all by holing from 25ft for an eagle 3 to gain the half point that clinched Stirling’s overall victory.

In the other British Universities Sports Association final match, Loughbourgh beat Heriot Watt 7-2 to win the BUSA Shield.