ST RULE TROPHY WILL HAVE ONLY ONE SUNDAY ROUND FROM NEXT YEAR

Alison White (extreme right) with the leading prizewinners in the fading light on Sunday evening after the prizegiving  From next year the St Rule Trophy prizegiving will be held several hours earlier.
Left to right caption: Barbara Grounds (St Rule captain), Emma Harris (winner of Under-18s trophy), Ailsa Summers (St Rule Trophy winners), Margaret Macnaughtan (SLGA president, Penny Newman-Carter (St Rule Trophy committee member), Alison White (chairman of committee). Picture by Cal   Carson Golf Agency

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

The St Rule Trophy tournament, which has become one of the top events on the European women's amateur golf calendar since its inception in 1984 - Annika Sorenstam was the winner in 1990 - is to change its format from next year.

It will remain a 54-hole stroke-play championship but instead of the traditional one round over the St Andrews' New Course on the Saturday followed by two rounds over the Old Course on the Sunday, from 2014 the programme will change to two rounds over the New Course on the Saturday with only one round over the Old Course on the Sunday.

Alison White, chairman of the St Rule Trophy organising committee, explains:

"We feel that by having the first 36 holes on Day 1, this will enable us to make a redraw overnight for the last round, making it more exciting for the spectators by having the leaders out last over the Old Course on Sunday.

"In the past we have made the draw for all three rounds in advance of the tournament.

"On a practical note also it will mean an earlier finish on the Sunday so that players can set off home, some to foreign countries, others to England, Wales and Ireland, at a reasonable time and we may also have more spectators around for the finish between 4 and 5pm."

This year's St Rule Trophy prizegiving was held after 8pm.

The dates for the new-look tournament next year are May 31 and June 1.

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NEWS RELEASE FROM ST RULE CLUB, ST ANDREWS

St Rule Trophy 2014

After 30 years the St Rule Trophy is set to change the format in 2014.

We are pleased to announce a change in format for 2014.  The field of 60 competitors will continue to play 54 holes over the New and Old courses but in future the first 36 holes will be played over the New Course, St Andrews on the Saturday and then there will be a re-draw with leaders out last for the final 18 holes over the Old Course, St Andrews on the Sunday.

Our grateful thanks go to St Andrews Links Management Committee for permitting the change in format and we look forward to the continued success of the event under the auspices of The St Rule Club.

Any queries may be directed to Alison White on admin@thestruleclub.co.uk