Wednesday 3rd October 2018

James Glenn gained his first Tour victory of the year while Mirren Fraser claimed her maiden Tour title on an exciting final day’s play at the Autumn Trophy. Meanwhile, in the team competitions there were wins for St Andrews women and UHI men.

James Glenn (Durham) gained his first 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. Meanwhile, 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 & Islands.

 

The men’s competition was finely poised heading into the final day with the final group of three separated by only one shot. While Michael Schinkel (UHI) struggled to replicate his form of the first two days (a 75 meaning he finished tied for 4th), Alistair McNaughton (UHI) and Glenn were at the start of an epic battle, McNaughton’s outward 32 bettered by James by one shot to see them tied at -5 for the tournament.

 

Glenn then put the foot down with three birdies in the next 6 holes, the third of which came one hole after McNaughton had made only his second bogey of the day, to take a 4 stroke lead and put one hand on the trophy. That was, however, without counting on McNaughton making back-to-back-to-back birdies to finish his round and get to -7. Having seen a three stroke lead evaporate earlier in the season at the Stirling International, it would have been fair to wonder about James’ mindset but a solid par put all of those thoughts to rest, securing his first title of the 2018/19 season with a round of the day six under 64.

 

Claiming the third spot in the competition was Robert Watson from the University of Strathclyde. Watson put together a hugely consistent set of rounds, two 71s with a 70 giving him third position by one stroke.

 

In the men’s team event, a fantastic performance from the team from the University of Highlands & Islands saw them race to a huge 23 stroke victory. The team of Alistair McNaughton, Michael Schinkel, Riccardo Cellerino, and Graham Minton recorded a team total of -6, with Stirling I and Stirling III coming second and third respectively.

In the women’s competition there was an equally close contest going on with 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 3 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.

 

Further back, there was a real tussle for the final podium position. Fern Clark (St Andrews) continued her return to form, a two over 73 leaving her at +12 for the tournament. Jasmine McKintosh (RGU) could only shoot 74 and, when Georgian Hirst (St Andrews) came in with a 75, there was a three way tie for third place. For overall Order of Merit points the position was shared although the competition saw countback award Clark the position.

 

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

 

UHI (Graham Minton, Riccardo Cellerino, Michael Schinkel, Alistair McNaughton) Men’s Team Winners

 

St Andrews (Alexa Hammer, Fern Clark, Kirsten Brown [not pictured]) Women’s Team Winners

The Tour returns to the Fairmont St Andrews next up for the Fife Tournament, starting on October 12th.

 

Full results from the Autumn Trophy are available on GolfBox.

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Tuesday 2nd October 2018

Moving day of the 13thAutumn Trophy saw both the men’s and women’s fields tighten up heading into tomorrow’s concluding round with high winds adding a new challenge to the competition.

Moving day of the 13thAutumn Trophy saw both the men’s and women’s fields tighten up heading into tomorrow’s concluding round with high winds adding a new challenge to the competition.

 

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 on day one was slowly being undone as three bogeys marred her front nine. However, Mirren 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 3rdplace 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 4 birdies or better, including an eagle 2 for Mollard at the par 4 8thhole. 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 them to go with 6 bogeys, it seemed as though they would go into the final round level after both bogeyed the par 3 17th. 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 with 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 3rdplace.

 

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.

 

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Monday 1st October 2018

Scott MacPherson (Stirling University) carried on his good early season form as he shares the lead of the 14thAutumn Trophy after round one at Alyth Golf Club.

Scott MacPherson (Stirling University) carried on his good early season form as he shares the lead of the 14thAutumn Trophy after round one at Alyth Golf Club.

 

Although cold, the early starters definitely had the better of the day at Alyth GC, new home of the Autumn Trophy, with heavy rain coming in over the course of the afternoon to make scoring more and more difficult.

 

MacPherson was one of those early starters and he used a bogey free front 9 to get to 3 under on the 11th. After dropping a shot on the par 3 14th, the hardest hole of the day, he was able to get back to 3 under with a birdie on the final par 3, the 17th, to shoot a 67.

 

Joining Scott at the top of the leaderboard is host institution the University of the Highlands and Islands’ Alistair McNaughton. McNaugton birdied both par 3s on the front nine to help him to two under, one more birdie at the 12thtaking him to his three under total.

 

Completing the podium places after day one is McNaughton’s teammate Michael Schinkel (UHI). Schinkel had a more up and down day than the two leaders, combining 5 birdies with 3 bogeys on his way to a two under 68. With the top ten all at level or better two day is going to be crucial in setting players up for the final day.

 

In the team event, UHI’s strong presence at the top of the leaderboard is reflected with a four stroke lead over Stirling I (-1), with St Andrews I and Durham 1 a further six strokes back at +5.

 

In the women’s competition it was last year’s Autumn Trophy 3rdplaced golfer Alexa Hammer (St Andrews) who leads the way after a solid round of level par. With a birdie and a bogey on the front and the back nines, it was a great display of consistent golf from Alexa.

 

One stroke back from the leader is RGU’s Jasmine MacKintosh, who after finding herself at +3 after six holes, turned her round around with a birdie on the ninth contributing to her getting back to one over for the day.

 

St  Andrew’s Georgina Hirst completes the top three at two over par. Hirst’s start was even tougher than Jasmine’s as she dropped five shots in the first four holes. However, a birdie at 5 arrested the slide and although she gave that shot back on the 9th, she started the back nine birdie-eagle-birdie to get back to one over. A dropped shot at the 16 did little to sour a very strong first round of 73.

 

In the team event, St Andrews I (+4) lead their second team by one stroke with Stirling I four strokes adrift.

 

Round two starts from 8.30am tomorrow and a full tee sheet, along with results from day one can be found HERE.

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Friday 7th September 2018

The 8th Stirling International came to a dramatic conclusion today with a playoff needed to separate Ronan Mullarney (Maynooth) and James Glenn (Durham) after an intriguing final day on the Torrance Course of the Fairmont, St Andrews, Mullarney winning on the first hole.

The 8th Stirling International came to a dramatic conclusion today with a playoff needed to separate Ronan Mullarney (Maynooth) and James Glenn (Durham) after an intriguing final day on the Torrance Course of the Fairmont, St Andrews, Mullarney winning on the first hole.

 

With Glenn and Mullarney playing together, along with Mark Napier (Stirling), in the final group, it was the American Glenn who made early progress. Leading by one from Napier and three from Mullarney, four birdies over the first nine holes stretched his lead as Napier’s three birdies were offset by an equal number of bogeys. Mullarney, meanwhile, had made three birdies of his own to move into second place, although still 4 shots back from Glenn.

 

When Mullarney bogeyed 15 it seemed that the contest was all but over, Napier having already dropped two shots while Glenn was a picture of consistency with 6 straight pars. However, on the 17thMullarney made birdie for the first time this week while Glenn could only manage a double bogey 5. This cut the lead to one heading up the last. Once again, Mullarney stepped up to make birdie, and Glenn’s par meant a playoff.

 

The two players headed straight back to the first hole for the playoff. Mullarney could not have played it more perfectly, a booming drive down the middle of the fairway leaving a short wedge into the green. With Glenn coming up short and having to chip onto the green with his third, the opportunity was there for Mullarney to win it with one putt; an opportunity he duly took.

Ronan Mullarney, Maynooth University, Stirling International 2018 Men’s Champion

Completing the podium was Caolan Rafferty (Maynooth), sneaking ahead of Scott Macpherson (Stirling) on countback.

 

This strong finish from Maynooth saw them crowned team champions for the first time, with a three round total of -10, thirteen strokes better than Stirling I.

Maynooth University, Stirling International 2018 Men’s Team Champions

In the women’s competition, Nicola Slater (Stirling) cruised to victory after her incredible opening two rounds had given her a solid cushion going into the final day. An up and down round saw an eagle and three birdies, along with eight dropped shots, for a final total of 210, -12.

Nicola Slater, Stirling University, Stirling International 2018 Women’s Champions

Penelope Brown (Stirling) ended up Slater’s closest competitor, a final round 73 leaving her at -3 for the competition. She was run close, however, by Kirsten Brown – the St. Andrews student with the round of the day, 70, leaving her one short of second place.

 

In the team competition, Stirling I took the victory, Slater and Brown combining with Rachel Thompson to finish at -16, 8 strokes ahead of St Andrews I.

Stirling University, Stirling International 2018 Women’s Team Champions

For full results please see GolfBox.

 

Photos from the competition will be available through the SSS Facebook page next week.

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Thursday 6th September 2018

The course record on the Torrance Course of Fairmont, St Andrews was rewritten as Nicola Slater (Stirling) moved even further clear of the rest of the field at the 8th Stirling International.

The course record on the Torrance Course of Fairmont, St Andrews was rewritten as Nicola Slater (Stirling) moved even further clear of the rest of the field at the 8th Stirling International.

 

Having set an unofficial course record from the yellow tees during round one, the Stirling golfer made a familiar start to round two, bogeying the first hole. However, she once again used that dropped shot as a rallying call, firing off two straight birdies and then an eagle on the 246 yard par 4 fifth. Another birdie followed for an outward 33. Four birdies on the back nine, including three in the final four holes, brought her home in 66, one shot better than yesterday, and a nine stroke lead.

 

Slater was not the only golfer marking red on the scorecard as the chasing pack tried their hardest to get closer to her on cut day. Leading that chase was Alexa Hammer (St Andrews) who used an eagle on seven to help her get to eight under for the tournament after the 12th. Two dropped shots over the closing six holes will frustrate but a round of 69 sees her take a 3 shot buffer over third place into the final day.

 

Two players share third place and have so far proved inseparable – Penelope Brown (Stirling) and Eleanor Metcalfe (Maynooth) following up their first round 74s with a pair of three under 71s to sit at three under for the tournament. Metcalfe had the slightly steadier round on the card, with five birdies, while Brown had that on the front nine alone, one on the way back in being offset by three bogeys.

 

In the team competition, Stirling I have taken a substantial lead off the back of Slater’s dominance, sitting 13 shots clear at -18. St Andrews I are in second (-5) with Maynooth in third spot (-1).

 

In the men’s competition, low scores were the order of the day at the top of the leaderboard.

 

Mark Napier (Stirling) led the way, having six birdies, including four on the front nine, on his way to a best of the day five under round of 67.

 

There is a four way tie for 3rdplace, with Maynooth’s Ronan Mullarney and Caolan Rafferty sitting alongside Scott MacPherson (Stirling) and James Rogers (Durham) at three under. Rafferty (70), Macpherson and Rogers (71) all added solid rounds to their first day performances while Mullarney dropped a shot on the second but a run of three consecutive birdies from six to eight helped him move through the field on the way to a four under 68.

 

However, no one could overhaul first round joint-leader James Glenn (Durham). The US golfer picked up an eagle 3 on the 3rd, and followed that up with a birdie on 7 to turn at three under for the day. While he dropped a shot on the 12th, a birdie at the last enabled him to sign off for a 68, and a one stroke lead over Mark Napier at the top of the leaderboard.

 

The highlight of the evening groups undoubtedly came from Jack Cornes (University of Central Lancashire) who recorded his first competition, and second overall, hole in one on the par 3 17th.

 

In the team competition, a strong day for Stirling I and Maynooth I saw them stretch away at the top of the leaderboard, both recording a team total of -7 to move to -8 and -6 respectively. Rounding out the podium places is St Andrews I at +12.

 

The final day of play gets underway from 0800 tomorrow morning, with the final women’s group teeing off at 1040 and the men at 1130. Tee times and live scores will be available HERE.

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Wednesday 5th September 2018

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

The first round of the new student golf season was played under a changing weather pattern on the Torrance Course of the 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 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 eagled the 2nd, her first of two in the round, and never looked back – eventually signing for a 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 thanks to matching Slater’s eagle on two, and then came back three under to shoot a 71, 4 back from the leader. One shot further back is Emily Mollard (Exeter), the French golfer picking up 4 birdies in her opening round 72.

With 13 players covered by 3 shots in the middle of the field the real drama tomorrow 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 round of 70.

Glenn was joined at the top of the leaderboard by his Durham teammate, James Rogers, who matched James’ 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 with Aberdeen’s Andrew Mulholland (Level), in his two under score.

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 tomorrow, with full results and live scores available HERE.

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Tuesday 4th September 2018

The 2018/19 student sporting year kicks off tomorrow, Wednesday September 5th, in St Andrews as the Fairmont St Andrews hosts the first event of the BUCS/SSS Golf Tour, the 8th Stirling International.

The 2018/19 student sporting year kicks off tomorrow, Wednesday September 5th, in St Andrews as the Fairmont St Andrews hosts the first event of the BUCS/SSS Golf Tour, the 8th Stirling International.

103 golfers will tee up on the Torrance course, representing 13 different institutions, with 26 women and 77 men in the field. The competition includes three round of individual strokeplay, with all competitors playing the first two rounds before a cut on Thursday evening leaving the top players to battle it out for victory on the final day. There are prizes for both individual and team performance.

The hosts, the University of Stirling, will lead the charge for the home nation, as returning Scottish Student Golf Championships Winner, Laird Shepherd, leads a strong group of golfers in the men’s competition.

However, reigning BUCS Rob Macpherson Order of Merit James Glenn (Durham University) will be hoping to ruin the Scottish party and get his

James Glenn, Durham University

defence off to a strong start. Also looking to challenge will be a very strong team from Maynooth University, headlined by WAGR Top 75 Caolan Rafferty, while the University of St. Andrews have a typically strong group of players, Peter Kerr and Matt Myers leading their charge.

In the women’s competition, University of Stirling return the reigning Rob Macpherson Order of Merit Champion Hazel MacGarvie, who will be looking to start the season in the same strong vein in which she finished last year. However, she won’t have it her own way in even her own team, as first year players Nicola Slater and Rachel Thompson will look to make their mark early in their careers.

Hazel MacGarvie, University of Stirling

Beyond the Stirling team, look out for last year’s winner Fern Clark (University of St Andrews, pictured top of page), as well as Emily Toy (Exeter University), and a strong group from Maynooth University, including Ciara Casey.

The Tour is supported by the R&A to allow the best student golfers in the UK to continue to develop their game during the student calendar year and consists of 10 events through Scotland, England, and Wales, which culminates in the annual Tour Finals for the leading men and women.

 

Play will start at 8am each day, with entry free for all spectators. Tee times and live scoring will be available from GolfBox, https://www.golfbox.dk/livescoring/tour/#/competition/1627942

We look forward to welcoming the best student golfers in the country onto the 2018/19 BUCS/SSS tour. Some new faces will be seeking to make their mark early on in the season whilst many familiar names will be hoping for a fast start. The Stirling International offers a perfect start to the season; a great field has been assembled at a brilliant venue in The Fairmont’s Torrance course, a set up which will provide a true test for the players. Once again we thank The R&A for their continued support as we embark on what promises to be an exciting season, taking in some outstanding venues across the country. Good luck to everyone for the forthcoming season.

Ian Gaunt, Chair Scottish Student Golf

 

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