YOUNG GUNS DOMINATE FIRST SSS/BUCS TOUR EVENT OF YEAR

FROM DR ROB MACPHERSON

This week saw the successful completion of the first Scottish Student Sport (SSS)/British University and College Sport (BUCS) Student Tour event of the season, played over the challenging course at Ladybank.

In dry but blustery conditions over 70 of the best student players, including 2013 Scottish Amateur champion, Zander Culverwell (Stirling and Dunbar), representing 19 different institutions, battled it out over a curtailed 36 holes for the Champions Quaich.

In the Men’s event, the leading players from Stirling University dominated – with first team players Culverwell, Craig Howie, Mathias Eggenberger and Henry Tomlinson all finishing in the top six.

However, there were outshone by new, first year student Chris MacLean (Stirling and Clydebank and District) who started the tournament with a five under par front nine of 31 in the first round, and never looked back. 

A birdie at the 17^th in the second round completed his solid two rounds of golf and, after a nervous wait watching his colleagues, he was able to comment: “I am delighted to win this event. The course was in magnificent condition and I was glad that I was able to play good golf against tough competition”.

LEADING MEN'S TOTALS

Par 142 (2x71)

139 Chris MacLean (Stirling) 67 72

140 Zander Culverwell (Stirling) 69 71, Craig Howie (Stirling) 67 73.

142 Andrew Wilson (Northumbria) 74 68, Matthias Eggenberger (Stirling) 72 70, Henry Tomlinson (Stirling) 72 70, Connor Neil (Dundee College) 71 71.

145 Andrew Cunningham (Strathclyde) 73 72, Alasdair Simpson (SRUC) 72 73, Aidan Fortune (SRUC) 70 75.

TEAN EVENT

419 Stirling 1.

438 Strathclyde 1

442 Northumbria.

In the women's event, it was a return to the winner's enclosure for Miranda Brain (St Andrews and Gog Magog) who followed up her first win at Dundonald last year with a hard-fought battle against playing partner Sammy Leslie (Robert Gordon and Westhill). 

Nip and tuck all through the second 36 holes, both players finished on the same total. 

Miranda triumphed due to the better second round, a 72 to Sammy's 73.

LEADING WOMEN'S TOTALS
148 Miranda Brain (St Andrews) 76 72, Samantha Leslie (Robert Gordon) 75 73 (Brain won with better second round).
 157 Zhanna Tarasko (St Andrews) 75 82, Jordana Graham (Stirling) 75 82.
158 Franzisca Benze (St Andrews) 77 81.

TEAM EVENT
303 St Andrews 1
316 St Andrews 2
318 Stirling.