Liam Johnston and Fern Clark top of the class in Stirling International at Fairmont

By BEN PHILIP

Liam Johnston (Scottish Golf) and Fern Clark (St Andrews), the overnight leaders, maintained their dominance over their respective fields to claim the Stirling International titles, the first event of the new SSS/BUCS Student Tour season.

Heading into the final day at Fairmont St Andrews Torrance course,  Johnston, pictured right,  enjoyed a one-shot lead over Robert Foley (Stirling) and after they both dropped shots at second, Liam began to assert his class with an eagle at the third.

Three more birdies followed on the 4^th, 6^th, and 7^th, to take him out in 32 and he came home in 35 for a 67 and a seven-under total of 209. That gave Johnston a victory margin of nine strokes from runner-up Craig Howie (Scottish Golf).

John Paterson signed off with a 73 for third place on 219. 

These strong Scottish Golf performances saw them comfortably win the men's team competition with an 864 totals, 37 shots ahead of the Stirling first team (901) with St Andrews 1 in third place on 918.

  

On women’s side of the competition, Fern Clark (St Andrews), pictured left, enjoyed a four- stroke lead at the start of the day and despite dropping four shots in the opening three holes, was never in real trouble as her competitors failed to take advantage of a player looking to secure her first SSS/BUCS Tour event.

A solid stretch around the turn ensured that Clark signed for an 82 and a four-stroke victory with a six-over total of 228. 

Cassie Kneen (St Andrews) finished  runner up in her tour debut with an 82 for 232.

Marie Danielsson, with an 80 for 237, finished third and completed a St Andrews' clean sweep of the top three places.

Kneen helped the St Andrews second team (458) upset their first team, finishing 16 strokes clear to win the women's team competition. Stirling 1 (478) finished third.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

MEN

par 216 (3x72) CSS 76 77 75

209 L Johnston (Scottish Golf) 72 70 67

218 C Howie (Scottish Golf) 69 76 73

219 J Paterson (Scottish Golf) 75 71 73

220 J Glenn (Durham) 75 74 71, R Foley (Stirling) 74 69 77

221 J Malone (Stirling) 72 76 73, J Sundborg (Stirling) 72 75 74

224 C Maclean (Scottish Golf) 74 78 71.

MEN'S TEAM

864 Scottish Golf

801 Stirling 1

918 St Andrews 1

WOMEN

Par 222  CSS 72 73 73

228 F Clark (St Andrews) 75 71 82

232 C Kneen (St Andrews) 70 80 82

237 M Danielsson (St Andrews) 77 80 80

238 E Laws (Stirling) 78 82 77, A Hammer (St Andrews) 77 78 83.

240 M Fraser (Stirling) 72 81 87.

WOMEN'S TEAM
458 St Andrews 2

474 St Andrews 1

478 Stirling 1

For full competition results, please see CLICK HERE