Stirling and Maynooth celebrate as Goadby and Mullarney take Fife honours

Ronan Mullarney (Maynooth) was celebrating victory at the 13^th Fife Tournament after defeating Monty Scowsill (Exeter) and Robert Foley (Stirling) in an exciting play off in the men’s competition while Chloe Goadby (Stirling) took the spoils in the women’s competition ahead of a tense battle for 2^nd and 3^rd between St Andrews’ Lieve van Veggel and Kirsten Brown and Stirling’s Jen Saxton.

The day started with calm, blue skies over the Kittocks Course at Fairmont St Andrews as early starter Cameron Franssen (St Andrews) shot a solid 73 to show that a low score might be there for the taking. Unfortunately, the calm conditions did not continue with the wind soon blowing in similar style to the first two days.

Despite a very impressive 69 from Bjorn Bojesen (St Andrews) it was soon clear that the winner was going to be the player who could limit their mistakes over the final 18 holes. The competition went this way and that between the final three groups but it soon became clear that the leading contenders were Mullarney, Scowsill, and Foley. After a to and fro competition, and with Scowsill already in the clubhouse, Mullarney was unable to hole his birdie putt while Foley made his to leave all three on +7 for the tournament.

All three players headed back to the 1^st tee and while the first time around all three made birdie, the second time around Foley wasn’t able to match the others and so it was left to Mullarney and Scowsill to head down the 14^th to identify a winner. A very fine par 4 from Mullareny was enough to secure him the title.

In the men’s competition, Bojesen’s round wasn’t enough to carry St Andrews past the Maynooth team as Mullarney’s 74 gave them victory by one stroke.

While a three stroke lead at the start of play seemed a comfortable cushion for Goadby, Kirsten Brown (St Andrews) pushed her all the way, at one stage moving into a tie for the lead until a double bogey at 16 gave Goadby breathing space. Earlier in the day, Lieve van Veggel had shot a superb level par 74 to set the clubhouse lead at +13 and only Goadby was able to beat that, finishing at +8. Both Jen Saxton (Stirling) and Brown matched van Veggel but, on countback, Saxton took third with Brown fourth.

In the women’s team competition, it was a case of déjà vu for St Andrews as van Veggel’s round of the day wasn’t quite enough to see St Andrews I home, Stirling I taking the team prize by two shots.

The Fife Tournament brings the 2017 student strokeplay calendar year to a close so a huge thanks to all the courses that have hosted events, the volunteers who have supported them, and the players who make the events what they are. The Tour returns in Scotland with the West of Scotland Trophy at Western Gailes in March.

For full Fife Tournament results please see HERE.