29/03/2023
SCOTTISH STUDENT CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023
Well, well, well. 72 holes of golf have passed, and the RAF pilots in Lossiemouth have been treated to some UNREAL golf from so many of our SUGC members.
For those of you who do not know the format of the stroke play for the Scottish Student Championships, this is a 72 hole event, with 18 on the Sunday & Monday, and 36 played on the Tuesday.
Going into this tournament, the SUGC had their top 2 teams on some serious form, coming off of title winning campaigns. The likes of Will Coxon & George Cannon have both had excellent seasons so far, with the latter leading the BUCS men’s Order of Merit, fresh off a win at Western Gailes. Jack Broun is also a golfer who can never be forgotten about, with the likes of Will Beatty, Greg Hurley & Ross Nelson also wanting to make an impression in their last Scottish Student Championships.
In the womens tournament, there was also a strong Stirling contingent, with Maria Toledo Bailey who was also fresh off a win at Western Gailes, 4’s MVP Lottie Raymond, and Lorna McClymont all looking to do the business in Lossie.
We will begin by looking at how the women’s tournament played out. Lorna McClymont blew her opponents out of the water, with a dominating 4 round total of 290, which equates to an incredible -10. There was a Stirling 1, 2, 3 in this tournament, with Maria Toledo Bailey & Ellie Docherty finishing 2nd and 3rd place respectively.
In the men’s tournament, Jack Broun shot a highly impressive 72 hole total of 281, giving him a 3 shot lead with his total score over the 4 rounds being -3. Jack started with an opening day 69, followed by a 73 and a 72.
Going into the final round, Jack held a tight 2 shot lead over Greg Hurley. George Cannon posted the round of the week with an incredible 65, with a back 9 total of 31, to really put the pressure on Jack, who had been leading since day 1. Jack grinded out, as he had since his first tee shot on round 1, and birdied 15 & 17 in the final round to give him a 3 shot lead going onto the 72nd tee.
In typical BUCS fashion, Jack’s drive on 18 ended up in a divot, with the ball significantly above his feet, a yard or two past the bunker. This could easily have turned a 3 shot lead into a playoff. Jack hits a high draw off the right of the green, and incredibly gets his ball to 25 feet from the pin. With the SUGC faithful on the banks of the 18th, he comes within inches of sinking a birdie putt, but has an easy tap in for 4, and gets the win in the bag.
The men’s leaderboard after 72 holes shows 7 SUGC members in the top 10. Another Stirling 1, 2, 3. Honourable mentions must go to George Cannon for the incredible final round 65, David Boden, for a 2 round total of 144, which got him into the final group for the last 36, and to Ben Goldup, who’s performance in Elgin was his highlight of the tournament.
It has been a dominant season in BUCS for Stirling, and this continued in the Scottish Student Championships.
In the words of our champion, Jack Broun, we look forward to the matchplay.