KirkwoodGolf: British Universities' Championships at The Duke's

Thursday, April 23, 2015

British Universities' Championships at The Duke's

Irishman Cormac Sharvin retains men's title

REPORT BY Dr ROB MacPHERSON
Stirling continued their dominance of university golf by capturing all four titles at the BUCS Championships at The Duke's Course, St Andrews (as well as both season-long Order-of-Merit titles as well). But it was a close run thing! 


In the men's competition, overnight leader Andrew Wilson (Northumbria/ Darlington) led the pack until the very final stages - managing to stay ahead of Chris MacLean (Stirling/ Balmore), Marco Iten (Stirling/Switzerland) and a charging Cormac Sharvin (Stirling/Ardglass), pictured right. 

However, a critical late birdIe by Sharvin and a bogey at the last by Wilson let the Irish international star in to retain the crown he won last year at Machynys in South Wales. 

Sharvin finished with a 73 for 292 to win by one stroke from Wilson (78 for 293) and MacLean (76 for 294).

Speaking after the event, Sharvin said "It was a great honour to win this title last year; I can hardly believe that I have won it again this year - and on such a challenging course". 

In the Men's team competition, Stirling overcame the challenges of players from Loughborough, Birmingham and Strathclyde to lift the title by a margin of 23 shots. 
Pictured above (left to right) are Marco Iten, Cormac Sharvin, Mathias Eggenberger and Craig Howie.

 
And the year-long Order of Merit was captured by Mathias Eggenberger, who had a surprisingly quiet week at the Duke's finishing 23rd.

GEMMA BATTY WINS WOMEN'S TITLE


In the Ladies competition, overnight leader Gemma Batty (Stirling/Powfoot) had an easier time of it - leading from wire to wire and taking the British title in her first year at university.

 Although pushed at times by her playing partners Katie Bradbury and Alex Saunders (both Exeter), Batty was able to comfortably progress through the round with a 79 for a total of 300 - three shots ahead of Bradbury who finished with a 73 for 303.

Although unable to match her course record 71 of yesterday, she  was delighted to say "Its fantastic. To win both the Scottish and British titles in April - as well as the Order of Merit - is something I never could have imagined". 
The women's team championship was a much tighter affair with the Stirling team of Tara Mactaggart, Hannah McCook and Gemma Batty pipping rivals Exeter by a single stroke.
 The women's team championship was a much tighter affair with the Stirling team of Tara Mactaggart, Hannah McCook and Gemma Batty pipping Exeter by a single shot. Tara, Hannah and Gemma are pictured below left to right in that order.
 

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BRITISH UNIVERSITIES CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Duke's Course, St Andrews
LEADING MEN'S TOTALS
Par 284
292 Cormac Sharvin (Stirling) 74 73 72 73
293 Andrew Wilson (Northumbria) 76 71 68 78
294 Chris MacLean (Stirling) 74 71 73 76
296 Rhys Thompson (Central Lancs) 76 75 71 74, Marco Iten (Stirling) 75 73 71 77
297 Craig Howie (Stirling) 82 71 70 74.
300 Matthew Bacon (Birmingham) 77 76 71 76
303 Michael Bekken (St Andrews) 76 74 76 77, Andrew Davidson (Stirling) 77 74 73 79
306 Craig Chalmers (Strathclyde) 75 74 80 77
307 James Glenn (Durham) 80 77 76 74
308 Alex Baker (Loughborough) 78 75 80 75, Kieron O'Connor (Loughborouogh) 79 77 77 75, Neil McKinstry (Ulster) 78 75 78 77, Matthew Hill (Loughborough) 76 75 79 78.
309 Henry Tomlinson (Stirling) 77 78 79 75.
310 Alastair McQuillan (Ulster) 77 74 76 83
311 Grant Price (Durham) 80 78 77 76, Craig Hughes (Strathclyde) 79 75 80 77, Chris Fleming (Exeter) 79 77 84 81.


LEADING WOMEN'S FINAL TOTALS
300 Gemma Batty (Stirling) 75 71 75 79
303 Katie Bradbury (Exeter) 75 75 80 73
307 Alex Saunders (Exeter) 78 74 75 80
313 Emma Newlove (Birmingham) 81 77 77 78
315 Hannah McCook (Stirling) 78 77 78 82
321 Jen Saxton (Stirling) 87 78 80 76, Miranda Brain (St Andrews) 83 79 80 79
324 Rosa Rantanen (Loughborough) 82 75 80 87
333 Tara Mactaggart (Stirling) 86 88 83 76
335 Molly Haslam (Exeter) 86 82 86 81

   



The winning Stirling women's team of (left to right) Tara Mactaggart, Hannah McCook and Gemma Batty.

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