100th Scottish Student Golf Championship

Moray Golf Club hosted the 100th Scottish Student Golf Championship and the Golf Team Championship from the 24th to the 29th of March 2024. Despite some challenging weather conditions, players turned up in good spirits and excellent golf was on show throughout the week.

The first 3 days of the event took place under a stroke play format, meaning players are scored individually and compete against the whole field. There were 75 participants in the men’s competition. The first day took place on the new course, and saw UHI’s Taylor Kerr score the best round with an impressive 67.

The second day provided more bitter, turbulent conditions on the new course in Lossiemouth, but thankfully players were able to remain dry throughout. After the second round had finished, a cut took place meaning only the 38 best-scoring players would make it to day three where play would switch to the old course.

Due to adverse weather conditions, only one round was played on the final day instead of the planned two. Despite Kerr scoring his worst round on the final day (73), his performances in the first two days were just enough to see him be crowned winner. Kerr finished the competition on 3 under par, narrowly beating out Ben Brookes and Jerry Fang of Stirling University who both finished on -2.

There was also a team element involved in stroke play, Universities/Colleges were able to submit a team of three or four players, with the three best scores counting for each round. This resulted in a victory for the University of Stirling. Thanks to the team of Will Coxon, Ross Laird, Ben Brookes, and Alexander Farmer.

14 competitors entered the women’s stroke play competition, representing a wide range of institutions. Lorna McClymont, from the University of Stirling, entered the competition with high expectations and she proved herself on the very first day. Scoring 69 on the old course, which was the best of any player.

McClymont continued her strong play on day 2 when the players switched to the new course. Her score of 68 was only matched by the University of St. Andrew’s Lucy Jamieson. This gave McClymont a three-shot lead on the chasing pack entering the final day.

Although she was unable to repeat her score of 69 from round 1, McClymont still scored a solid 72 back on the old course. Meaning she was an exceptional -12 overall for the competition and the winner of women’s stroke play.

Regarding the team element for women’s stroke play, the groups were slightly different. Teams were made up of two or three members from their institutions and the two best scores from each round were taken. The University of St Andrews came out on top thanks to quality golf from Lucy Jamieson, Megan Ashley, and Eilidh Monk.

The second half of the competition took place under match play rules, meaning players play directly against an opponent, competing to win individual holes. In the men’s side of this event, teams were made up of eight players and one substitute. Five teams entered: Stirling 1s, 2s, and 3s, the University of Strathclyde, and the University of Stirling. A strong three days of golf from Stirling 1s resulted in silverware.

Women’s match play was a head-to-head format where the players compete individually. The final of the match play was an all-Stirling University affair. Lorna McClymont continued her form from earlier in the week. This resulted in her facing Ellie Docherty, a native of Moray Golf Club, in the final. Docherty showed outstanding technique in the final and took the victory on her home turf.

Thank you to all the staff and volunteers at Moray Golf Club, who were incredible hosts as always.

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