Stirling Students lead men and women's scoreboards at Fairmont St Andrews

The 12th BUCS students' Fife tournament got under way today (Friday) with changeable conditions at the Fairmont St Andrews' Torrance course. 

With the course in fantastic condition but a challenging wind, the competitors were tested throughout their rounds, although speed of play was the biggest mental challenge for the players.

In the women’s competition, Gemma Batty (Stirling), pictured left, managed six birdies in her round to join Ireland's Sinead Sexton (Stirling), pictured right, at the top of the leaderboard after both recorded one- over-par 75s.  

Lieve Van Veggel (St Andrews) is chasing the two University of Stirling golfers after her three-over 77 left her two shots off the lead.

With rounds averaging over 5 hours, slow play plagued the men’s side of the competition and left one group to come back in the morning to finish their round. 

The round of the day came from the last group to finish as Chris MacLean (pictured) made light of the darkening conditions, birdieing two of the last four holes on his way to a two-under-par 70. 

Safely in the clubhouse after earlier tee times were Riccardo Cellerino (Highlands and Islands) and Sean Flanagan (Maynooth), both with very solid rounds to sit on level par 72 and one over par 73 respectively, ahead of a group of five  players at two-over 74.
Among the highlights of the day was Jordan Hood’s round of 75, which included a 10 on the second hole but saw the Maynooth student him come home in three-under 33.

Saturday’s second round sees play move to the Kittocks Course and with more rain scheduled, patience and mental strength are likely to determine the leaders at the close of play.

LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES

MEN

par 72

70 C MacLean (Stirling)

72 R Cellerino (UHI)

73 S Flanagan (Maynooth)

74 C Upson (Edinburgh), K LeBlanc (Maynooth), B Bojesen (St Andrews), J Rogan (St Andrews), M Myers (St Andrews).

75 M Fitzimmons (Stirling), C Edgar (Stirling), J Hood (Maynooth), J Wilson (Stirling), J Sundborg (Stirling), J Harling (UHI). 

WOMEN

par 74

75 G Batty (Stirling), S Sexton (Stirling)

77 L Van Veggel (St Andrews)

79 G Galatolo (Liverpool), C Goadby (Stirling), M Patzeltova (Elmwood), T Mactaggart (Stirling)

80 J Saxton (Stirling)

81 M Danielsson (St Andrews)

82 P Brown (Stirling)

83 A Hammer (St Andrews)