After 193 long days, we are delighted to say – Student Sport is BACK! Naturally, we restarted where we left off all those days ago – golf.
On Tuesday 29th of September, student sport returned, with Alyth Golf Club playing host to the 15th Autumn Trophy. Across the day 82 golfers from 16 different institutions, teed-off in the shortened, one-day event.
Registration and sign-in had a slightly different feel to normal, with temperature checks, hand sanitising stations and COVID-19 questionnaires and disclaimers in place to ensure the safety of all students participating. After waiting over six months to return to student sport, the golfers were delayed a further 30 minutes due to frost. But the sun soon emerged and the deadlock was finally broken with the University of Stirling’s Nicola Slater getting us up and running for the 2020-21 season.

13 women were battling out this year for the title and it was Nicola Slater who led the way. Having teed off first, Slater set the standard with a score of 68 to beat. Two participants matched Slaters score with both Megan Ashley (University of St Andrews) and Hazel MacGarvie (University of Stirling) equalling the score after 18 holes. With a playoff not appropriate due to the new COVID guidelines, the winner would be decided through scoring of the last nine holes. With all three players scoring 33 on the last nine, it went down to the last six as per BUCS regulations with Hazel MacGarvie (pictured below) taking the title.

In the afternoon, the men’s tournament teed off in the September sunshine. The great conditions were equally matched by the standard of golf on show. The “thinkers course” as the members of Alyth Golf Club like to call it, brought out some flamboyant shots from competitors throughout. Naturally, with the shortened – winner-takes-all – one-day competition format, the competitors were forced to go for it from the start and play attacking golf.
The Men’s competition also provided a dramatic finish with the University of Stirling’s Andrew Borg (pictured below) winning his first-ever BUCS/SSS Tour series event. A score of 68 was the winning score in both the Men’s and Women’s events. Borg came to life in the back nine, going birdie-eagle-birdie on holes 10,11 and 12 putting him in with a real shot at glory in the final few holes. On the 18th he held his nerve and holed a pressure par put, to finish on 68 overall and two under par. Borg was closely followed by Conor Rochon (University of St Andrews), Greg Hurley (University of Stirling), and Harry Bathurst (University of Edinburgh) who all finished on 69 – just one stroke behind Borg.

While MacGarvie and Borg are formally recognised as the winners of the tournament, it was a great day for all staff, volunteers, and students. Special thanks to Alyth Golf, Club, The R&A and BUCS for their on-going support of the programme. We look forward to seeing familiar faces at the new Golf Events at Western Gailes on the 16th of October.
Speaking after the event, Scottish Student Sport Head of Competitions, Chris Purdie, was delighted to get competitive student sport back up and running. He said:
“It was fantastic to get so many students back participating in sport which is what SSS are all about. From our perspective, first and foremost it was about making sure the students were safe and getting students back playing sport.
“I would like to take the opportunity to thank Alyth Golf Club for their hospitality, BUCS and the R&A. Without all their support this event wouldn’t have been possible. It was really good to see the smiles back on everyone’s face.”

📝Full results and scorecards are available to view here!
📸Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook channels where we will be releasing the full photo album and tournament video soon!
BACK TO LIST