R&A Student Tour Series observers could have been forgiven for thinking the 2024-25 season would struggle to match the last campaign for calibre of play. The STS – Sweden at Halmstad Golf Club, the first event of the new season, put paid to that idea.
Losing proven winners such as Lorna McClymont, a two-time Order of Merit winner and seven-time champion, Eoin Murphy, Allan Hill and Jesper Littorin plus strong title contenders Megan Ashley, Ben Brookes, David Kitt, Adam Charlton and others seemed to suggest a lull this year. Halmstad proved the STS is in great shape heading into its fifth season.
First-year students Judy Joo of St Andrews and Thomas Abom of Maynooth certainly looked comfortable on their STS debuts with respective victories in the women’s and men’s events last week.
“This was the first time in a long time I was able to collect myself and keep my composure. It was a testament to my patience the last three days that I was able to stay focused and pull through."
Judy Joo
Abom pipped teammate Ryan Griffin by a shot with a 4-under-par total of 212 following a final round of 73. Joo took the women’s title by two shots over Halmstad’s Elice Fredriksson and Ellie Monk of St Andrews with a 2-under tally of 214 thanks to a final round of 2-under 70.
“I wasn’t really expecting anything, but I’m glad I’ve won with so many good players here this week,” said Joo, a management and economics scholar. “This was the first time in a long time I was able to collect myself and keep my composure. It was a testament to my patience the last three days that I was able to stay focused and pull through."
Abom looked at ease among a strong chasing pack. Griffin is a three-time STS winner and Order of Merit champion for the last two seasons. Former STS winner George Cannon of Stirling and strong St Andrews player Judd Sundelson placed joint third, two shots off the pace.
Abom warmed up for his first STS season by winning the Irish Amateur Close Championship. He carried that confidence with him to Sweden.
“It’s a great start to my Maynooth career to get a win, especially on the back of the Irish Close,” Abom said. “It’s an unbelievable feeling. I won the Irish Close in a playoff, and when it got tight here today, I knew I had the game to pull it off because I’d done it a few weeks ago.”
Abom and Joo move to the top of the respective Order of Merit tables with a possible chance of an Arnold Palmer Cup place after the final event at St Andrews in April.
RESULTS
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