James Blyth and Penny Brown top of the class with a day to go at Lossie

 

By Stewart Fowlie

James Blyth, pictured left, of St Andrews leads the field at half way in the 97th Scottish men’s students golf championships at the Moray Golf Club's Lossiemouth links, thanks to a swashbuckling round of 67 over the New Course.

Blyth's colourful card featured an eagle at the par 5 third, plus five birdies - including a hat-trick starting at the 13^th. James thus posted the joint best round of the tournament to enjoy a three-stroke lead with two rounds to go.

Riccardo Cellerino (UHI) accelerated up the leaderboard with a flawless front nine of 31 that included birdies at the first, third, sixth and ninth holes

However he suffered a series of unfortunate events over the next six holes, dropping seven shots to par over this stretch.

Cellerino finished the second day six shots off the pace at seven-over-par 147

Stirling’s Alasdair McDougall showed some great fighting spirit after a double bogey 6 at the first took him to +10 for the tournament. Undeterred, he hit back with an eagle at the third and went on to post a further three birdies without reply for a creditable round of three-under 67. He finished the day on five-over, four behind leader Blyth

McDougall finds himself just one shot behind first-round leader Oliver Bailey, who had a topsy-turvy round – including just a solitary par on the front nine – to finish the day in third place on a total of 144.

Stirling stablemates Michael Lawrie and Matthew Bell round out the men’s top five, but they will all be chasing the man from St Andrews, James Blyth when play resumes.

The top half of the men’s field will play the last two rounds over the Moray club's Old Course on Tuesday, with their sights set on securing the Jack Allan Cup for the champion student golfer of the year.

The female students were first out into the stiff morning breeze for what proved to be an absorbing day of golf. Stirling University’s Penny Brown (pictured left) continued her very useful form with birdies at the sixth, ninth and 12th on her way to a very healthy 73 and a leading 36-hole total of four-over 150.

This placed her just ahead of overnight leader Chloe Goadby (Stirling), who never quite found her first-round form  and stuttered slightly to a round of 75, with only a solitary birdie at the 13^th to smile about.

Nevertheless Goadby remains only one shot back and with everything very much to play for over Tuesday's 36 hole  finale.

The top three at the halfway stage is rounded out by Lorna McClymont from SRUC, who posted a very impressive  70 to spring up the leaderboard and finish the day two off the lead. McClymont had an up and down day but showed great tenacity to fire three birdies in her closing five holes, including a 3 at the last that was set up by a wonderfully controlled approach shot to six feet.Also making the cut, amongst others, were Alexa Hammer (St Andrews), Caitlin Boa (UHI) and Susan Woodhouse (Strathclyde), meaning that six institutions will be represented across the top ten.

Play resumes on Tuesday morning  over the New and then the Old Course, in pursuit of the  title and the much coveted Smith-Murray Cup.

  
SCOTTISH STUDENTS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth

WOMEN
SECOND ROUND
Par 146 (2x73)
150 P Brown (Stirling) 77 73
151 C Goadby (Stirling) 76 75
152 L McClymont (SRC) 82 70
153 J Mackintosh (RGU) 82 73
157 A Hammer (St Andrews) 86 71, C Boa (UHI) 83 74, M Fraser (Stirling) 81 76/
161 Susan Woodhouse (Strathclyde) 86 75
162 M Patzeltova (SRC) 90 72, N Slater (Stirling) 88 74

MISSED THE CUT
162 N Slater (Stirling) 88 74
163 E Laws (Stirling) 82 81
164 G Hirst (St Andrews) 92 72
167 C Kneen (St Andrews) 91 76, F Clark (St Andrews) 87 80
168 R Thompson (Stirling) 87 80
169 J Rankine (Stirling) 90 79
172 K Brown (St Andrews) 92 80
181 K Napoleaova (St Andrews) 91 90

WOMEN'S TEAM
300 Stirling 1
314 SRUC 1
316 St Andrews 1
325 Stirling 2
331 Stirling 3
338 St Andrews 2

MEN
Par 140 (2x70)
141 J Blyth (St Andrews) 74 67
144 O Bailey (Stirling) 72 72
145 A McDougall (Stirling) 78 67, M Lawrie (Stirling) 73 72
146 M Bell (Stirling) 78 68, R Foley (Stirling) 77 69
147 E Ferguson (UHI) 77 79, R Cellerino (UHI) 76 71, J Sundborg (Stirling) 75 72
148 L Johnson (UHI) 78 70, A McNaughton (UHI) 77 71, A Bendall (Stirling) 76 72
149 R Hawthorn (Stirling) 79 70, P Kerr (St Andrews) 75 74
150 A Woodhouse (Strathclyde) 78 72
151 R Watson (Strathclyde) 78 72, K McCormick (UHI) 76 75, S Davidson (Stirling) 76 75
152 L Fraser (Stirling) 79 73, C Leith (RGU) 79 73,C Franssen (St Andrews) 77 75, A Reid (Strathclyde) 77 75.
157 G Minton (UHI) 83 74 (5 other players on 157 failed to be included in the 39 players to beat the cut).
+39 players with totals of 157 and better beat the cut.

MEN'S TEAM
433 Stirling 2
442 UHI 1
447 Stirling 1
452 Stirling 3
454 St Andrews 1, UHI 2
455 Strathclyde 1, St Andrews 2

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK


https://www.golfbox.dk/livescoring/tour/?language=2057#/competition/1628291/leaderboard

 

 

Stirling students Penny and Jordan wire-to-wire winners at Western Gailes

 

By BEN PHILIP

The 14^th West of Scotland Trophy students' golf tournament came to a close today with two wire-to-wire winners in Stirling’s Penny Brown and Jordan Sundborg.

 

Once again Western Gailes was beset by atrocious conditions, the final day proving possibly even windier than the first two. This brought to a close the perfect storm of weather throughout the competition and in which every player’s performance was to be commended.

 

Brown (pictured right) started the day with a six'-shot lead over team-mate Hazel MacGarvie and extended that lead with a par at the first. However, a double bogey 6 at the 4^th, coupled with MacGarvie’s birdie at the sixth cut the gap to four strokes 

 

That would prove to be as close as Hazel got as back-to-back bogeys saw both players turn in 41. Two birdies on the back nine from Penny closed the door on the competition and only a double bogey on 18 prevented her from being the only player to shoot in the 70s each day, a back nine of 39 seeing her sign for an 80. Her final score of 235 gave her an eight-shot winning margin.

 

Behind the two leaders, Mirren Fraser (Stirling) rounded out the top three, an 82 to match her first round concluding a very solid week of performances.

 

In the women’s team competition, Stirling I were the runaway victors, beating their own third team by 33 shots.

In the men’s competition, overnight leader Sundborg (pictured left) was defending a three-shot lead over West of Scotland’s Kieran Quinn. However, it was the men who started the day in third place who were the early challengers.

With Jordan starting double-triple, his lead on the third day was down to one as Ali MacDougall (Stirling), along with Colin Edgar (Stirling) and Conor Rochon (St Andrews) tried to put pressure on the leader.

 

A par at the third for Sundborg steadied his round, and he did not drop another shot until the 11^th, by which time he added a birdie to seven pars. This saw his lead stretch to five shots, a lead he would not relinquish despite five dropped shots over the closing four  holes.

 

The big mover of the day was Stirling’s Matt Bell, who made four birdies in a round of 75. This saw him leapfrog MacDougall and Edgar into second place, just two strokes behind the eventual winner.

 

In the men’s team competition Stirling I were again victorious, five strokes clear of their 2^nd team.

 

The students' Tour next moves to Lossiemouth and Moray GC, for the Scottish Student Championships from the 24^th-26^th March.

 

Full results from the 14^th West of Scotland Trophy are available on GolfBox.

 

https://www.golfbox.dk/livescoring/tour/?language=2057#/competition/1628231/results/1706181

 

 

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

3rd Floor | 48 Pleasance | Edinburgh | EH8 9TJ

 

t: 0131 650 9653 or 9654 |

e: ben@scottishstudentsport.com  | w: www.scottishstudentsport.com

Weather wreaks havoc on day one of Fife Students' Tournament

By BEN PHILIP

Shocking weather characterised the first day of the 14^th Fife Students' Tournament as play got under way on the Kittocks Course of Fairmont, St Andrews.

 

While it seemed tough for the early groups with very strong gusting winds, as soon as that died down the later groups were exposed to rain of biblical proportions, making the course almost unplayable.

 

The golfers to escape unscathed were few and far between and had to show a very high level of skill and patience to do so.

   
In the men’s competition, no one did this better than Maynooth’s Caolan Rafferty. He added three birdies to 13 pars to shoot a one under par round of 70. Going out in the middle of the field, this was all the more impressive as not only did he start with the high winds but he finished in the monsoon, hugely impressive from a very talented golfer.

 

Chasing Caolan are a couple of golfers he grew familiar with over the Stirling International tournament earlier in the season – James Glenn (Durham) and Scott Macpherson (Stirling). 

 

It would not be a stretch to say that Scott has been the revelation of the autumn competition with solid round after solid round seeing him feature in early round leaderboards across all of the competitions. Here, three birdies in an up and down front nine saw him turn level and his only blemish on the back nine was a bogey on the last for a 73.

That was matched by James, who already has a win and a runners up spot from the two Scottish tournaments this season and is clearly looking to complete the podium sweep. Glenn utilised a lot of up and downs from short of the green to card 15 pars on his way to his one over 73, a solitary birdie at 14 his only reward for the day’s work.

 

In the men’s competition, the individual leaderboard is reflected in the team competition, with Maynooth I (+5) leading by 10 strokes from Durham I (+15), with Stirling I a further stroke back.

 

The women’s individual competition was dominated by a player playing her first Scottish student event of the season – reigning Scottish student champion Hazel MacGarvie (Stirling), pictured right. Hazel was the only golfer to break par, as she picked up 5 birdies across her round to finish at two under.

Perhaps more impressive a performance was that of Georgina Hirst (St Andrews) who belied her handicap of 4 to shoot a one over round of 75. A one under front nine was at risk of being undone when she doubled the par 4 12^th, but two birdies in the final 4 holes left her right in the hunt after day one.

 

There are five golfers sharing third spot at +2, all of whom will fancy their chances of making an impression into the weekend.

 

In the team competition, the individual performances are again matched for the team, with Stirling I (par) leading St Andrews I (+10) with St Andrews II a further 3 strokes back.

Full results and tee times for round two are available on GolfBox

 

https://www.golfbox.dk/livescoring/tour/?language=2057#/competition/1628042/leaderboard/1706028

Highlands and Islands take Students' Autumn 

 

Trophy by runaway margin

 

James Glenn (Durham) gained his first Students' Golf Tour event victory of the year while Mirren Fraser (Stirling) claimed her maiden Tour title on an exciting final day’s play at the Autumn Trophy, being hosted for the first time by Alyth Golf Club.

 In the team competitions there were wins for the University of St Andrews women’s team and the men’s team from the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Glenn produced a final round of six-under 64 for a 54-hole aggregate pf 202, pipping UHI's Alistair McNaughton by a single shot.

Third was Robert Watson from the University of Strathclyde on 212/

In the men’s team event, a fantastic performance from the team from the University of Highlands and Islands saw them race to a 23-stroke victory. The team of Alistair McNaughton, Michael Schinkel, Riccardo Cellerino and Graham Minton recorded a team total of six-under-par, with Stirling I and Stirling III coming second and third respectively.

In the women’s competition there was an equally close contest  with Mirren Fraser taking a single shot lead over Alexa Hammer (St Andrews) into the final day. Two dropped shots over the first four holes from Fraser opened the door but Hammer was unable to take advantage and over the front nine it was Mirren who extended her lead to three shots.

Alexa fought back, shooting two under on the back nine, but Fraser was able to match her total to secure a three-stroke victory.

In the women's team competition, it was St Andrews who took the win, Hammer, Clark, and Kirsten Brown finishing seven stokes clear of Stirling I.

The Students' Golf Tour returns to the Fairmont St Andrews for the Fife Tournament, starting on October 12.

 

LEADING MEN'S TOTALS

202 J Glenn (Durham) 69 69 64

203 A McNaughton (UHI) 67 70 66

212 R Watson (Strathclyde) 71 70 71

213 J Pope (Exeter) 70 74 69, M Schinkel (UHI) 68 70 75.

LEADING WOMEN'S TOTALS

216 M Fraser (Stirling) 74 73 69

219 A Hammer (St Andrews) 71 77 71

225 F Clark (St Andrews) 78 74 73, J Mackintosh (RGU) 72 79 74, G Hirst (St Andrews) 73 77 75.

Tight at the top after day two of students'

Autumn Trophy at Alyth

 

By BEN PHILIP

Moving day of the students' 13th Autumn Trophy tournament saw both the men’s and women’s fields tighten up heading into Wednesday's concluding round with high winds adding a new challenge to the competition at Alyth Golf Club.

 

In the women’s competition, Mirren Fraser (Stirling) was rewarded for her round of the day with a one-stroke lead heading into Wednesday.

A solid three-over effort on day one was slowly being undone as three bogeys marred her front nine.

However, Mirren, pictured, started the back nine with a birdie and that helped her to a two-over 73 for the round, and a 147 two day total.

 

Overnight leader Alexa Hammer (St Andrews) didn’t have it all her own way today with four dropped shots over the opening four holes threatening to derail her challenge. However, she showed some strong fight to make 3 birdies over the next 7 holes and ensure that her round of 77 left her one back from Fraser and very much in the hunt.

 

Maintaining her spot in third place is Hammer’s St Andrews team- mate Georgina Hirst. Much like Alexa, Georgina had a tough start to her round in the worst of the wind and this saw her drop 6 shots over the opening nine holes.

However, three birdies coming home arrested the slide and ensured she ended the day where she started, in third place and ready to challenge for her maiden Tour victory on Wednesday.

 

On a day where birdies were hard to come by, both Fern Clark (St Andrews) and Emily Mollard (Exeter) were able to make moves up the leaderboard, both recording four birdies or better, including an eagle 2 for Mollard at the par 4 eighth hole. Both players will be looking to repeat today’s performance and move onto the podium.

 

In the team competition, St Andrews I (+13) stretched their lead to four strokes over St Andrews II, with Stirling I three strokes further back at +20. 

 

In the men’s competition, it was a case of consolidation for the two UHI men at the top, with both leader Alistair McNaughton and Michael Schinkel carding level par 70s.

 

Indeed, having played cat and mouse over the preceding 16 holes with 7 birdies between and to go with 6 bogeys, it seemed as though they would go into the final round level after both bogeyed the par 3 17^th. However, McNaughton made sure that it was he that takes the slender lead after sinking a long putt at the last for birdie and a 137 two round total.

 

Joining the two UHI students at the top of the leaderboard is perennial Tour winner James Glenn (Durham). Displaying his usual style of solid goal, the wind didn’t seem to affect him a solitary bogey on 3 the only blip of his front nine. Coming back was a lot more interesting as birdies at 11 and 14, coupled with an eagle at 16, helped him to a one under round of 69, and a share of second place with Schinkel.

 

Although those three are the only golfers under par after Tuesday’s play, there are a host of familiar names chasing them and they will be looking to set a solid clubhouse total ahead of the final group coming in.

 

In the men’s team competition, UHI I (-3) have taken a commanding 15 stroke lead over Stirling I, with Stirling III (+15) the surprise package in 3^rdplace.

 

Play starts from 9am tomorrow morning and you can see the full scoreboard, along with tee times for tomorrow on GolfBox. Live scores through nine will start mid morning tomorrow.

 

https://www.golfbox.dk/livescoring/tour/?language=2057#/competition/1628002/leaderboard/1705980

 

LEADERBOARD

MEN'S TEAM

417 UHI

432 Stirling 1

435 Stirling 3

438 St Andrews 1

447 Stirling 2

466 St Andrews 2

492 SRUC 1

MEN INDIVIDUAL

137 A McNaughton (UHI) 67 70

138 J Glenn (Durham) 69 69, M Schinkel (UHI) 68 70

141 R Watson (Strathclyde)

142 C Edgar (Stirling) 69 73,  P Kerr (St Andrews) 70 72

143 S McCaw (Stirling) 72 71

WOMEN'S TEAM
297 St Andrews 1
301 St Andrews 2
304 Stirling 1
WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL
147 M Fraser (Stirling) 74 73
148 A Hammer (St Andrews) 71 77
150 G Hirst (St Andrews) 73 77
151 J Mackintosh (RGU) 72 79, K Napoleaova (St Andrews) 74 77
152 F Clark (St Andrews) 78 74
153 E Mollard (Exeter) 78 75
155 C Boa (UHI) 74 81

 

New student season gets under way at Fairmont St Andrews with Nicola Slater leading way

By BEN PHILIP

The first round of the new student golf season was played under a changing weather pattern on the Torrance Course at Fairmont St Andrews. The "Stirling International" is now the established curtain-raiser for the BUCS/SSS Golf Tour, always providing drama to go with the debuts of the new crop of players.

 

In the women’s competition, the first drama was the morning withdrawal through sickness of Hazel MacGarvie (Stirling). The loss of the reigning Macpherson Order of Merit second year opened the door for the rest of the female field.

 

Nicola Slater (Stirling) was one to take advantage of MacGarvie’s absence. Having moved into the first group, and bogeying the first hole, the first year student  eagled the second hole - her first of two in the round - and never looked back, eventually signing for a seven-under 67 that included four birdies to go with those eagles.

 

Head of the chasing pack is Maynooth’s Ciara Casey, who went out in level par, thanks to matching Slater’s eagle at the second, and then came back in three under to shoot a 71, four back from the leader. One shot further back is Emily Mollard (Exeter), a French golfer who picked up four birdies in her opening round 72.

 

With 13 players covered by 3 shots in the middle of the field, the real drama on Thursday may well come from who is able to grab a place in the top 12 and make the cut for Friday’s final round.

 

In the team competition, all three of the top teams recorded under-par scores, with Stirling I (-7), leading Maynooth I (-3), and Exeter I (-2).

 

On the men’s side, having the top three finishers from last year’s Order of Merit in the field was a sign of the strength on show. Couple that with a strong crop of first-year golfers and a deep team from Maynooth University, and a cluster at the top of the leaderboard was always on the cards.

 

James Glenn (Durham), reigning Macpherson Order of Merit champion, went out in the first group and set the early clubhouse lead – very solid golf, including three birdies, helping him to a two-under 70.

 

Glenn was joined at the top of the leaderboard by Durham team-mate James Rogers, who matched Glenn's three birdies in his 70. Completing the triumvirate at the top was Scott Macpherson (Stirling), who recorded five birdies, tied for the most in the field during the day, and Aberdeen’s Andrew Mulholland who had a two-under round.

 

In the team competition, Stirling I were the only team to break par (-1), giving them a two stroke lead over Maynooth, who are four ahead of Stirling II.

 

The second round gets underway from 8am on Thursday , with full results and live scores available at https://www.golfbox.dk/livescoring/tour/?language=2057#/competition/1627942/leaderboard/1705846