Strathclyde, Stirling progress to men's team final 

in Scottish students' championships

By BEN PHILIP

Stirling and Strathclyde will contest the final of the men's team match-play on Friday (foursomes at 8.30am; singles 12.30) after scoring victories in today's semi-finals over the Moray New Course under a beautiful, cloudless sky.

Stirling, the defending champions, overpowered the men from the Highlands and Islands 10.5-1.5 while Strathclyde, after building a 4-0 lead in the foursomes against St Andrews, shared the eight singles for an 8-4 victory.

Stirling won three of the four foursomes , with only Ruaridh Robertson and Jack Harling able to deliver a point for UHI.

Meanwhile last year's finalists Strathclyde underlined their burgeoning reputation for the alternate-shot format, racing to a lunchtime lead of 4-0 against St Andrews.

Stirling, having found their rhythm early, and never looked back as they eased away from the local favourites UHI, on their way to a dominant 10.5-1.5 result. 

Only Alistair Mcnaughton could offer any prolonged resistance, fighting his way back to grab a well deserved half with Stirling's Mathias Eggenberger. 

The second semi final proved to be a much tighter affair in the afternoon, with St Andrews coming out fighting after their difficult morning and establishing leads in a number of the ties.

 The Saints would go on to win the first two matches in the closing holes, but a half in the third match proved very valuable to Strathclyde and they followed it up with two and a half points from the following three ties. 

Captain Craig Chalmers provided the icing on the cake by closing out a very high quality encounter against Lukas Michel. Chalmers, who had been five under par for the first seven holes, continued his excellent form and won the match 4 and 2 after almost holing his second shot at the 16th.

 SEMI-FINALS
STIRLING 10.5, HIGHLANDS and ISLANDS 1.5
Foursomes: 3-1

Maclean and Davidson bt Schinkel and Johnston 3 and 2

Walter and Edgar lost to Robertson and Harling 3 and 2

Wilson and Tomlinson bt Brown and McNaughton 2 and 1

Shepherd and Eggenberger (Stirling) bt Cellerino and Galeppini 3 and 2

 Singles: 7.5-0.5

Walter bt Schinkel 4 and 3.

Davidson bt Johnston 5 and 4.

Maclean bt Robertson 6 and 5.

Wilson bt Brown 7 and 5

Tomlinson bt Cellerino 1 hole

Shepherd bt Gallepini 2 and 1

Eggenberger halved with McNaughton
Howie bt Harling 5 and 4

STRATHCLYDE 8, ST ANDREWS 4
Foursomes: 4-0

Connacher and Hughes bt Bojesen and Anderson  3 and 2

R Johnson and Graham bt Rogan and Stoddart  3 and 2

J Johnson and N McConnochie bt Beasley and Burns 2 and 1

Chalmers and Wright bt Michel and MacGregor 4 and 3

Singles: 4-4
Connacher lost to Bojesen 2 and 1. 
R Johnson lost to Stoddart 1 hole.
Wright halved with Anderson.
McConnochie bt Rogan 1 hole.
Graham bt MacGregor 4 and 3.
 Hughes halved with Burns.
J Johnson lost to Beasley 2 holes.
Chalmers bt Michel 4 and 2.


Gemma completes double at Scottish Student 

Championships at Lossiemouth

By BEN PHILIP

Stirling University starlet Gemma Batty today added the match-play crown to her stroke-play title at the 94th Scottish student golf championships at Moray Golf Club.

Batty ultimately proved just a little too strong for clubmate Chloe Goadby and won the match 3 and 1 to retain the  title and cap a memorable week at Lossiemouth.

The 18 hole-final, played over the Old Course, was of an extremely high standard, with the two finalists producing a total of 13 birdies between them in a stunning display of golf.

Champion Gemma commented: "It was a very good match indeed. Y ou always needed a birdie to win a hole. We both played probably our best golf of the week - especially on the greens. It really was a great game."

Both Gemma and Chloe’s attentions now shift to the BUCS Tour Finals, to be held at Crail Golfing Society, where Gemma will be aiming to repeat her victory of 2015.