GEMMA, GABRIELLE AND AILSA RECEIVE GOLF SCHOLARSHIPS FROM SPORTSCOTLAND INSTITUTE OF SPORT

NEWS RELEASE
Three St Andrews students have been awarded sports scholarships totalling up to £16,000 by the SportScotland Institute of Sport. 
Gemma Bradbury, Gabrielle Macdonald and Ailsa Summers, all golfers, will receive the scholarships in addition to support already provided by the University Golf Development programme.

Winning Students scholarships, which have been awarded since 2009, are designed to give students performing at the highest level a platform to excel both on an academic and sporting front. 

Scholarships of up to £5,500 are awarded each year, with investment in services being tailored to the individual requirements of the athletes involved – the students themselves design the scholarships to make sure that the money is put to the best use possible.

There are ten core scholarship sports, of which golf is one, and athletes can be nominated by their governing body, with a strict set of criteria underpinning the process. 

These scholarships provide additional support over and above that provided by the University Golf Development programme and, in some cases, compliments the support received from the SportScotland Scottish Institute of Sport.

For Ailsa Summers from Carnoustie, a Maths and Chemistry student at the very beginning of her university career, the ability to control her own  training and funding is ideal, as she knows precisely what she wants to do with her game.

 “I want to improve my playing skills by using the excellent courses and weather conditions to learn new ways to play and therefore have a wider range of shots available. 

"In order to be able to do this, the foundations of my golf swing must be solid, something I am and will be working hard on to benefit in the future. 

"I would ideally be at a level to contend in the highest level of amateur golf after university and maybe turn professional if my ability allows.”

Debby Sargent, Performance Sport Manager at the Sports Centre, says of the award, “Both competitive golf and university are expensive ventures in the current climate and maintaining financial stability to allow students to excel at both is increasingly difficult. 

"The Winning Students scholarships provide additional income to individual golf athletes, which compliment University of St Andrews scholarships and bursary opportunities. This  allows them to embrace all the opportunities that the ‘Home of Golf’ and university golf affords.”

Welsh golf international Gemma Bradbury has received the scholarship for the last three years, and after graduating from St Andrews University hopes to take her game to the highest level. 

“Next year, I intend taking a year out to play golf full-time – without the distraction of exams or a degree - and hopefully this will enable me to reach the top level of the amateur game which I hope would be a Great Britain and Ireland cap,” said Gemma.

Home Nation representation is not a requirement of the scholarships, but successful scholars must “demonstrate a capability of playing in future major international events and tournaments”.

 It is certainly high up on the agenda of Edinburgh's Gabrielle MacDonald, also a student at St Andrews University

“Developing my golf throughout my time at university is one of my main priorities. Continuous improvement for me in golf will hopefully lead to gaining a full international cap on the Scottish Ladies team.” 

Like Gemma, she aspires to greater things in the golf world after St Andrews. 

“I would like to take time out to compete as a full-time amateur and eventually to gain my tour card for the Ladies European Tour.”