Tuesday 6th September 2016
SSS/BUCS Tour Kicks Off With 6th Stirling International
Hosted at The Duke’s, Craigtoun, over 100 of Britain and Ireland’s best student golfers will look to get their season up and running with a strong showing over 3 rounds of golf.
The new student golf season kicks off this week with the now traditional curtain raiser, the Stirling International.
“Hosted at The Duke’s, Craigtoun, over 100 of Britain and Ireland’s best student golfers will look to get their season up and running with a strong showing over 3 rounds of golf.”
With BUCS Macpherson Order of Merit qualifying points on offer, a strong showing at The Duke’s can provide a firm base on the road to the BUCS Tour Finals, hosted this season by Prince’s Golf Club in April 2017.
This year’s Stirling International is jammed full of quality, with teams representing nine institutions in the men’s competition and four on the women’s side. Complementing entries from UK universities are a men’s team from Scottish Golf (including Stirling University graduate Craig Howie), and a men’s and a women’s team from Irish powerhouse Maynooth University.
The men’s competition sees only one of last year’s top ten (Andrew Davidson; Stirling University/Charleton) returning, providing a great opportunity for a new generation of golfers to come to the fore. As in previous years, Stirling and St. Andrews provide the highest number of golfers in the field but there is quality on show from all of the institutions and staying in contention over the first two days should set a number of golfers up for a final day shootout.
Three of last year’s top five, including reigning champion Gemma Batty (Stirling University/Powfoot), return in the women’s competition. With a field 40% bigger than last year, the competition will be as fierce as ever with Gemma unlikely to give up her title without a strong fight. As on the men’s side, Stirling and St Andrews provide the majority of the field but the other institutions represented will be set on ensuring that the Scottish powerhouses don’t have it all their own way.
“It is fabulous to herald the start of another exciting season of student sport, with the Stirling International golf Tournament getting underway at The Duke’s.”
Full information on the Stirling International can be found HERE.
Updates during the event will be found HERE, with live scores HERE.
For all information on the Macpherson Order of Merit, please visit the BUCS website.