JACK AND EILIDH BOTH FINISH 2ND AT ST ANDREWS
STUDENTS GOLF INTRO
FINAL TOTALS SENT
CREDIT CAL CARSON GOLF AGENCY
FROM COLIN FARQUHARSON
ON ALGARVE
Stirling students Jack McDonald and Eilidh Briggs both had to settle for the runner-up spots in a dramatic finish to the 54-hole R and A Foundation Scholars golf tournament over the Eden and Old Courses at St Andrews.
Briggs lost at the second hole of a women's title play-off to the defending champion, Paula Grant (University of Ulster), who is also the Irish women's amateur champion.
Four shots dropped over the first seven holes on the Old Course - including a double bogey 6 at the sixth - cost Stirling University's Jack McDonald victory in men's tournament.
McDonald, who had scored 69 and 65 over the Eden Course on Monday, could do no better than a closing two-over-par 74 over the Old Course for a four under par total of 212 for the 54-hole tournament contested by 60 student golfers from the UK, Ireland and some Continental countries.
All the competitors in this event receive financial assistance from the R and A to play competitively as amateurs while completing their studies.
McDonald, who also bogeyed the 10th, made a brave bid to retrieve his flagging fortunes with birdies at the ninth, 14th and 15th but he came up one short of catching the winner
Louis Tomlinson, from Myerscough College, Preston who shot 67, 69 and 71 for five under par 207.
Tomlinson held McDonald's challenge at bay with birdies at the 13th, 14th and 16th and could even afford to bogey the Road Hole (17th) and still have a shot to spare at the finish.
In the women's event Paula Grant, joint overnight leader with Ailsa Summers (St Andrews), finished in a tie with Eilidh Briggs on seven under par 215 while Ailsa dropped down to join fourth place after a closing 81 for 219.
The Irish player had a pair of 69s over the Eden Course on Monday and a one-over-par 77 off the womens tees on the Old Course.
Eilidh, a physical education student and a member at Kilmacolm GC, had scores of 72, 68 and 75.
Eilidh birdied the first, second, ninth, 13th and 14th in her final round over the Old Course but bogeys at the fifth, 11th, 12th and 16th cost her victory the regulation 54 holes.
Paula had bogeys at the sixth, seventh and 11th but birdies at the 10th and 14th enabled her
to share the No 1 spot after 54 holes.
Then the Irish champion prevailed at the second extra hole of a sudden death playoff
McDonald, who also bogeyed the 10th, made a brave bid to retrieve his flagging fortunes with birdies at the ninth, 14th and 15th but he came up one short of catching the winner
Louis Tomlinson, from Myerscough College, Preston who shot 67, 69 and 71 for five under par 207.
Tomlinson held McDonald's challenge at bay with birdies at the 13th, 14th and 16th and could even afford to bogey the Road Hole (17th) and still have a shot to spare at the finish.
In the women's event Paula Grant, joint overnight leader with Ailsa Summers (St Andrews), finished in a tie with Eilidh Briggs on seven under par 215 while Ailsa dropped down to join fourth place after a closing 81 for 219.
The Irish player had a pair of 69s over the Eden Course on Monday and a one-over-par 77 off the womens tees on the Old Course.
Eilidh, a physical education student and a member at Kilmacolm GC, had scores of 72, 68 and 75.
Eilidh birdied the first, second, ninth, 13th and 14th in her final round over the Old Course but bogeys at the fifth, 11th, 12th and 16th cost her victory the regulation 54 holes.
Paula had bogeys at the sixth, seventh and 11th but birdies at the 10th and 14th enabled her
to share the No 1 spot after 54 holes.
Then the Irish champion prevailed at the second extra hole of a sudden death playoff
posted by Colin |
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