Bojesen Best as Blairgowrie Begins 12th Students' Autumn Trophy action

 

By BEN PHILIP

Bjorn Bojesen (St Andrews) fired a best of the day 71 to lead by one as the 12^th Autumn Trophy got underway at its new home of the Lansdowne Course of The Blairgowrie GC. In the women’s competition, Lieve van Veggel (St Andrews) shot a one over par 76, giving her a 3 stroke advantage over the rest of the field.

 

In monsoon conditions, and a mention must go to the team of greenskeepers who ensured that the round continued without delay, Bojesen led at every checkpoint, going out in a flawless 34, with 3 birdies helping him come back  one under par. One shot back is SRUC’s Graeme Greer, who came home in a bogey free 34 to shoot level par. David Nagiev (Stirling) and Riccardo Cellerino (UHI) sit a further shot back, one ahead of a group of 5 players at +2 for the tournament.

 

In the team competition, St Andrews I will take a healthy 7 stroke lead over Stirling I and surprise package St Andrews V into day two after a combined effort of +5 for the day.

 

Van Veggel truly was the stand out performer of the first day in the women’s competition, with only a bogey at the last stopping her from what would have been a well deserved even par round. However, her one over 76 was good enough to ensure a three stroke lead over Jen Saxton (Stirling University), who played consistently without managing to pick up many shots, her only birdie coming at the last. A further 3 strokes back lies Georgia Holden (St Andrews), who managed to hold her round together after a tough run of 4 bogey’s over the turn, to post a +7 80.

 

In the women’s team competition, it’s St Andrews from St Andrews as St Andrews I, maybe smarting from their defeat at the Stirling International, lead St Andrews II by eight strokes. Stirling I complete the podium places, one stroke behind St Andrews II at + 18.

 

With high winds forecast for the second round, it will be another testing day, with the men aiming to make the cut in the top 27 players and the women aiming to set themselves up for a strong final day.

 

Full leaderboard and round 2 tee times (from 0903) available:

http://www.golfbox.dk/livescoring/tour/#/competition/1249736/leaderboard 

Ben Philip | Head of Competitions | Scottish Student Sport (SSS)