There was a palpable sense of relief for both R&A Student Tour Series – France winners over Le Golf National’s Albatros course on Saturday. University of Stirling student Lorna McClymont got back to winning ways, while Allan Hill of Maynooth University finally won his first STS event.
Hill’s victory makes it seven of eight first-time winners this season, a credit to the STS’s strength in depth.
Hill needed a one-hole playoff over University of St Andrews student Adam Charlton after they finished all square on 1-over-par 214. Hill, a 23-year-old master’s student in finance, made a bogey 5 on the par-4 final hole to Charlton’s 6, after Charlton found water with his second shot.
Five men shared third place, one shot out of the playoff.
In defending the title that she won last season, McClymont recorded her sixth STS victory. She finished on 1-over-par 217 thanks to a closing 2-under 70, the low round of the day.
That was three shots better than Maynooth student Kate Lanigan, winner of this season’s STS – Italy. However, McClymont’s stumble at the 15th nearly opened the door for Lanigan to step through.
Hill’s win made up for a few top-10s during his STS career, including runner-up in the 2020 STS – Portugal event, a result that included a course-record 6-under 66 over the demanding Troia Golf course. Hill earned an Arnold Palmer Cup team place that season. However, a persistently injured left wrist has hampered the Roscommon Golf Club member ever since.
Hill was cruising with a three-shot lead after 14 holes, but made a quadruple bogey on the par-4 15th hole after hitting three balls into the water.
“The finish was stressful, but it’s nice to finally get over the line, especially since it’s my second last tournament,” said the 23-year-old, who graduates this year.
“I’ve been trying to win for five years. It’s very satisfying to win on this golf course because it tests every facet of the game.
“I didn’t have huge expectations this week but I was happy with my performance over the first two-and-a-half rounds or so. I thought I’d blown my chances at 15, but I hit a great hybrid from 220 yards at 17 to 10 feet and holed the birdie putt. That gave me the momentum back, and it turned out to be my day.
“The fact I’m the seventh first-time winner this season is a credit to the series, which has only got stronger since I started. It speaks to the calibre of players that anyone can step up and win.”
McClymont’s calibre has never been in doubt. She’s a two-time Order of Merit winner, but has struggled this season.
She also had issues at the 15th. She was in control of the event until she made her first mistake of the day when she double bogeyed the hole to move from four ahead to just two.
She bounced back with birdies at the 16th and 18th to take the honours.
“I’m satisfied to win the tournament, but there’s a sense of relief too,” McClymont said. “I was up there all week, and to close it out is good.”
This is a big year for McClymont. She’ll defend her Welsh and Irish Stroke Play titles, and there’s the matter of trying to qualify for the Curtis Cup at Sunningdale at the end of August.
“I’ve learned a lot about myself during this series,” she said. “This week reminded me that anything is possible. You just have to go out there and hit the shots.”
RESULTS
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