University golfers off to a flying start.

The conditions at Saunton for the first Student Tour event were challenging on both days with persistent wind and rain throughout the competition affecting the greens and leaving the rough in a perilous state. Despite the bad weather The University of Exeter achieved four top ten positions in the men’s competition with new ladies golf scholar Katie Bradbury finishing third in the lady’s event.

Laurie Potter finished his two rounds a superb third with a total of 146, a mere four strokes off victory and equalling the second place score. Danny Vallis (5^th) and Jack Irwin (9^th) were not far behind, both finishing on 150.

The University’s bumper crop of new golfing scholars also got off to a fantastic start. Welsh international Katie Bradbury finished third in the ladies competition with a total of 159. Having led the first round with a score of 76 she ended just seven off Northumbria’s victorious +2 golfer Ami Storey. Nick Wildman, previously selected for the Great Britain University Golf squad also finished a highly respectable tenth with 151.

Golf is one of the Universities ten Focus Sports, with seven scholars on its books. High performance golf manager Craig Townsend said “We couldn’t have hoped for a better start to the season. The weather really was not on anyone’s side this weekend, however all of the guys came through and I am incredibly pleased with their performance. It’s great to have Nick and Katie competing with us as scholars. Already their talent is showing and hopefully we can continue to improve throughout the season.”

The BUCS competition, in which over 150 institutions compete in over 50 sporting disciplines, will see University of Exeter golfers travelling around the country in a number of competitions this year. The next golf tournament will be taking place at Woodhall Spa Golf Club in Lincolnshire on October 24 with a full entry of 100 players from 22 different institutions.