Impressive BUCS finals performance seal GB Selection for Exeter golfers

Exeter saw a record 10 players qualify for, and nine attend the event, which is the culmination of the BUCS individual season. Just under 60 players made the cut for the event, meaning Exeter represented over one sixth of the whole field.

1^st team captain, Laurie Potter (MSc International Management), who is in his final year at the University, finished second in the men’s event, which saw 44 of the country’s top student golfers compete.

Following a final day battle with Irish Amateur Champion Cormac Sharvin he shot 75, 71, 72 and 75 to finish the tournament on 293, just four short of victory.

He said: “Heading into the event I wasn't carrying a huge amount of form, the end of March was an extremely busy time with numerous deadlines so the golf practice had to take a bit of a hit.

“I felt I played and hit the ball well in the first round but didn't score as well as I would have liked to but stayed patient and fortunately my scores reflected how I felt I was playing on the second day when I posted two strong scores which moved me up for me to a tie for the lead with 1 round to go.

“In the final round I was feeling confident about my game, I hit it well tee to green but didn't have a great day on the greens so unfortunately I had to settle for second place.”

Welsh international Katie Bradbury (2^nd year, Accounting and Finance) also capitalised on the home advantage to deliver a podium place with a final score of 305 (75, 81, 73 and 76), just one shot short of the first play playoff.

These results, mark Exeter’s most successful BUCS finals ever in terms of overall points, and have led Potter and Bradbury to both be selected for the world’s, taking place on the world famous and European Master’s course, Cranz Montana, in Switzerland this June.

Katie will join a team of just three UK women selected from across the whole country alongside Northumbria’s Amy Storey and Hannah McCook of Stirling.

Following the announcement of the team immediately after the finals, she said: “It’s been a great week. I felt I played well all week, and kept myself in contention for the win all the way so I'm happy with that. I was disappointed to miss out on the playoff in the BUCS finals, but it was great to be selected for the team GB team to go to Switzerland.

“I can't wait to head to Switzerland as I've never played golf out there before and the course looks really good. Once exams are over I'll be knuckling down on the golf practice and I have a couple of tournaments lined up before Switzerland in order to prepare.

“I'm confident that the team can do well out there so I'm really looking forward to it!”

Potter will join Zander Culverwell (Stirling), Andrew Wilson (Northumbria) and Craig Chalmers (Strathclyde) in a four man team that join 25 other countries for the tournament.

Now in his master’s year he expressed his delighted at the opportunity to represent his country, he said: “I was over the moon when my name got read out on the team sheet, it was a goal of mine since the start of the season to make the team.

“I have been fortunate enough to have enjoyed four great years at Exeter and have always enjoyed putting my shirt on to represent the university and to go out representing Great Britain seems the perfect way to cap off my university career.

“The standard of the event will naturally be extremely high so if I won't to compete at the level and challenge the top spots I will need to be in top form and put in an intense month’s preparation, adjusting to the altitude of the course.

“At 1500m the ball will fly further through the air so as soon as we arrive in Switzerland I will have to get to work on adjusting to the new distances which will be one of the toughest challenges we as a team will face.”

The world’s is not the first time the pair have been selected to represent their countries. In 2013, they travelled with the all Exeter team to the European Universities Golf Championships, finishing fourth overall.

High Performance Golf Manager, Craig Townsend explained how their experience will be invaluable on the global stage. “It’s great that Laurie and Katie are both going to Switzerland. They have both enjoyed exceptional seasons with the University, so thoroughly deserve their positions on the team.

“It’s a big event, but these are experienced players. Katie has travelled around the World with the Welsh team and for R&A events, and Laurie has consistently proven himself against world-class amateur players.

“It will be brilliant experience for them, and I have no doubt they will be an asset to Team GB.”

Exeter’s final scores in the BUCS Finals:

Men’s:

2. Laurie Potter (MSc International Management) 75, 71, 72, 75 Total: 289

6. Chris Fleming (3^nd year, Economics and Finance) 73, 72, 78, 74 Total: 297

17. Stuart Patrick (1^st year, Accounting and Finance) 75, 81, 77, 76 Total: 311

18. Tom Thornhill (4^th year, Accounting and Leadership) 73, 81, 79, 79 Total: 312

43. James Roberts (2^nd year, Classics) 87, 83, 82 (Withdrew due to injury).

Ladies:

3. Katie Bradbury (2^nd year, Accounting and Finance) 75, 81, 73, 76 Total: 305

8. Alex Saunders (1^st year, Psychology with Exercise & Sports Science) 79, 77, 87, 87 Total: 330

11. Immy Vessey (2^nd year, Flexible Combined Honours) 86, 90, 94, 90 Total: 360

12. Georgina Thomas (1^st year, Business and Management) 85, 89, 92, 95 Total: 361