R and A SEND BOBBY RUSHFORD TO PLAY IN PERU CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING
University of Stirling golfer Bobby Rushford is on course for tour school boosted by selection for a major international amateur tournament.
Rushford, picture by courtesy of University of Stirling, a postgraduate Sports Management student, has been selected by the R and A to compete at the Campeonato Internacional de Aficionados in Peru.
The 72-hole strokeplay tournament tees off from 13-16 April at Lima Golf Club and Rushford will be the fifth consecutive Stirling student to compete at the event which has an individual and team format.
James White had the honour in 2010, finishing 15th overall and Rushford, from Falkirk, quickly got the lowdown on what lies in store.
"James [White] is in South Africa at the moment so I've only had a quick chat by phone," explained Rushford, whose golfing CV includes reaching the semi-finals of the 2009 Scottish Amateur Championship and captaining the University golf team to multiple team titles.
"He said it was a really good event as many national teams send players and some of the top American collegiate golfers compete as well. I've been abroad to international tournaments quite a few times, but never to South America so it will be interesting to see the differences.
"There is supposedly a lot of grain on the greens which makes the ball move in strange ways and the course is at a high altitude which means the ball will run a lot faster. Apparently we get appointed a caddy when we get there so hopefully I'll get one with plenty of local knowledge."
Rushford is currently ranked 1235th in the new Men's World Amateur Golf Ranking system, but with ranking points up for grabs in Peru, he is hopeful a strong showing can boost his standing.
He added: "The tournament comes at the start of the season and it is important to get off to a quick start. It comes right before some of the big tournaments closer to home so if I can play well in Peru it will stand me in good stead. The aim is to play well this year in my final year as an amateur and then go to tour school."
Making the step up from amateur to touring pro has proven difficult for Scottish golfers in recent years, but Rushford can glean wisdom from his University coach, former European Tour player Dean Robertson.
The Paisley professional arranged a tournament for his student side against a PGA select side at Turnberry last week and while experience told with the overall result, Rushford and Marketing student Graeme Robertson did claim an impressive 2 and 1 scalp of former Scottish PGA champion Mark Loftus and ex-Scotland amateur international Graham Fox.
So pleased was he with the success of the event, Robertson has already pencilled in a return fixture in April at Gleneagles, the venue for the University's home matches.
He said: "It was an excellent day, made possible thanks to the hospitality shown by the guys at Turnberry. We may not have won, but it provided invaluable experience for my players to test themselves against players who have tasted European Tour golf.
"This year, Bobby [Rushford] has really upped his game. We've made a couple of improvements to his technique and he is showing great promise. I expect him to have a good year and excel in university golf and at international level too."
The University of Stirling team, which took on the PGA side comprised players on the International Sports Scholarship Programme: David Booth, Alexander Culverwell, Kit Holmes, Michael Howard, Dewi Merckx, Graeme Robertson, Bobby Rushford, Colin Thomson, Darren Timms and Andrew Wallace.
Elsewhere, Stirling women's team golfer Kelsey MacDonald, is preparing to compete at the Spanish International Ladies Amateur. The Sports Studies student will be in action from 2-6 March at Sherry Golf, in Jerez.