Stirling sport scholars Lorna McClymont and George Cannon have won the first round of the R&A Student Tour Series – the Stirling International – at Montrose Golf Links.
McClymont, last year’s BUCS Order of Merit winner, started her season in the same vein of form as she broke the course record on day one with a stunning 13-under par 60. Despite a tougher second round, the Sports Studies student held her nerve to hold off Lucy Jamieson of St Andrews by one shot.
The win, whilst not as comfortable as she may have hoped, still marks a great start to the season. Fittingly, it was also further cause for celebration as the result was achieved on the day of her 22nd birthday.
Commenting on her rollercoaster victory at Montrose, the 22-year-old said: “I’ll learn from both rounds of golf. Yesterday it was good to learn to have that control and how it feels. Today it was good because I learned there are times when golf doesn’t always go your way, and you have to take it on the chin and learn from it. That’s golf.”
George Cannon tees off on hole 18. Photo: R&A Golf.
Meanwhile in the men’s event, one of Stirling Golf team’s newest recruits - 19-year-old George Cannon - fought off stiff competition from fellow teammate Will Coxon and Edge College’s Ben Willis, securing his first win on the Student Tour Series.
In a three-way playoff, it took three rounds of the par-4 second hole before the Business and Finance student sealed the win.
Have only just been called up to the team in the week building up to the tournament, Cannon was full of gratitude for the opportunity to tee it up with the UK’s best student golfers. He said: “I’ve worked really hard over the summer and Dean (Robertson – University of Stirling’s Head of Golf) has put in a lot of hard work with me. He’s given me a lot of confidence and you can’t beat that. I only got in the team last week and so it’s a great start. Happy days.”
Both McClymont and Cannon will now look forward to the next event in the Student Tour Series, held at Le Golf National in France, which hosted the 1028 Ryder Cup, from 24-26 October.
Read more about The R&A Student Tour Series and the University of Stirling high performance golf programme.