Stirling University triumph in a gripping final

The University of Stirling established its innovative golf scholarship programme in the early 1980s; by 1986 they were ready to win their first national academic title; and, today, at Moray Golf Club in fresh but fair conditions, the new boys on the block tied The University of Glasgow's record for the most wins in the competition (and Glasgow have played in all 93 versions of the Scottish Student Championships since the inception of the Charles McNeill Trophy in 1923). 
But it was a close run thing! The University of Strathclyde, who had been thoroughly beaten by Stirling in the 2104 final, took the opportunity for revenge very seriously and came out of the traps extremely well. In the first match of the morning foursomes, Strathclyde's Captain Craig Chalmers (Cawder), playing with Andrew Wright (Kilmarnock Barassie) took on Stirling's Balmore pairing of Chris MacLean and James Wilson. 
The match was always tight but an inspired shot by Wright into three feet at Moray Golf Club's iconic last hole was enough to secure the first point on the board.
 This was soon followed by a further point when Andrew Cunningham (Ranfurly Castle) and Callum Connacher (Wishaw) led from the wire to overcome Dan King (Newport) and Angus Carrick (Douglas Park). 
With matters looking decidedly close in the final game, it was left to Andrew Davidson (Charleton) and Marco Iten (Switzerland) to give the Stirling scholars some hope. 
However, it was not for nothing that Henry Tomlinson (Royal Lytham and St Annes) and Mathias Eggenberger (Switzerland) shared the Jack Allan Trophy for the individual championship earlier in the week.
 Despite being down for many of the eighteen holes (and with the match pairing having a foursomes better-ball score of nine under par), the class acts of the field hauled themselves level with Strathclyde's top duo of Craig Hughes (Drumpellier) and Rich Johnston (Glenbervie), squaring the game at the 16th and securing hard fought halves at 17 (in birdie) and 18 (in par).
 A half-time score of 2.5-1.5 to Strathclyde promised an interesting afternoon to come.
Unfortunately, although many of the individual matches in the afternoon were equally tight, it soon became clear that the Stirling players were just a little too strong for their west of Scotland compatriots. 
After ten rounds of golf in six days (and in some brutal conditions early in the week), Cunningham was unable to see off the doughty tenacity of King in the first match, going down 3 and 1. 
Carrick, Wilson and MacLean, in the engine-room of the Stirling team, quickly added 3 and 2 defeats of Johnston, Connacher and Wright respectively and this, coupled with a hefty 5 and 4 victory for Davidson, was enough to see Stirling over the line in early order.
A late victory for Graham (against Iten) and a halved match for Chalmers (against Tomlinson) were too little too late to allow for any tense finish. 
Speaking at the prize-giving, Scottish Student Sport Vice-President and British University Golf Chair, Dr Rob Macpherson said "Stirling's performance was, as it always has had a tendency to be, very impressive. 
"The standard of golf played this year was at the pinnacle of the amateur game - matches were won with biridies and eagles in testing and trying conditions. 
"The willingness of Moray Golf Club to host the student championships for a 17th consecutive year - and in a year when they themselves will play host to the Scottish Strokeplay Championship (when many of the students will return) - is greatly appreciated and highly valued. No-one in the field this week will be worse off at the Scottish Strokeplay for having played such a great links in such competitive conditions."

 JAN SAXTON SURPRISE MATCH-PLAY WINNER
Although, disappointingly, there was no Ladies Team Championship (for a fourth year in a row), it was agreed among the teams and players to institute a Ladies Matchplay Knockout on an individual basis instead.

 The top four players for the strokeplay competition were seeded for 18 holes of matchplay. The competition was fierce with Nastja Banovec (Abertay Dundee; Slovenia) overcoming local favourite Hannah McCook (Stirling; Grantown on Spey) in the top semi final; and first year student Jen Saxton (Stirling; Muckhart), pictured, shocking individual champion Gemma Batty (Stirling; Powfoot) in the other semi. 
The afternoon final saw a close tussle with Saxton coming out on top by a score of 2 and 1. Speaking after the victory, Jen said "It has been a hard week - but a fun one. To beat Gemma this morning and then Nastja this afternoon has just been amazing!"

Many of the men and the women compete next week in the R&A Bursar's Tournament over the Eden and Castle courses in St Andrews; and more will return to competition in the British University Championhsips round the Dukes Course in St Andrews later in April.