Exciting finish ahead for R&A Student Tour Series – Portugal

The final rounds of the men’s and women’s R&A Student Tour Series – Portugal look like coming down to a battle between experienced STS competitors and newcomers hoping to impress on their debuts.   Halmstad University’s William Leu, who has five top-ten’s in STS events, leads the men’s tournament on seven-under-par by two shots over University of Nottingham player Judd Sundelson, who is playing his first STS event.   On the women’s side, two-time STS order of merit champion and five-time winner Lorna McClymont of the University of Stirling is tied at the top with debutante Emma Fleming of University College Dublin. They sit on one-over-par. 

Two-shot swing 

Leu and Sundelson stood all square on six-under-par after 17 holes thanks to a Sundelson eagle on the par 5 17th hole to Leu’s birdie. However, the 18th hole produced a two-shot swing in Leu’s favour.   The Swedish player birdied the hole, his seventh of the round, when he hit a short wedge shot to four feet and holed the putt to return a five-under-par 67, the low round of the week so far. South African Sundelson bogeyed the hole when he found tree trouble down the left-hand side as he returned a three-under 69.   “I didn’t see making seven birdies on this course when I played my practice round,” said sports science student Leu. “I played pretty poorly in my practice round, so I knew I had to focus my mentality during the tournament. I’m not that good at practising. I focus when I play tournament rounds and my game moves to a higher level.” 

Thirty-foot eagle putt 

Leu’s best STS result is a runner-up finish to former Halmstad teammate Jesper Littorin in the STS France during the 2022/23 season. He feels he’s ready to win.   “If I continue to do what I did today then it should happen, but I need to hole a lot of putts and play well tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it,” he added.   Three under through the first 15 holes, Sundelson dropped his first shot at the par-4 16th and moved to six-under when he holed a 30-foot eagle putt from just off the 17th green.    “The eagle was a bonus because I felt like I lost my swing a little bit from the 13th hole,” Sundelson said. “I just lost a bit of confidence coming down the stretch and I hit a few shots left.”   The R&A Scholar is revelling in his STS debut. “I’m loving every minute of this week,” he added. “The competition is great, it’s a beautiful place, a great course, tough set up, tough pins, greens are really good and it’s a great test of golf. Hopefully I can get my swing back on track and play well in the final round.” 

Chasing first win of campaign 

McClymont returned a level par 72 after an opening 73 to join Fleming at the top of the women’s leaderboard. She’s looking for her first STS win of the current campaign.  “Yesterday I let silly little things get to me, but today I was very patient and I focused on acceptance,” the Scottish internationalist said. “I’ve learned to take responsibility for the scores I make, whereas before I’ve probably tried to find things to blame.”   The highest ranked player in the field at 126th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®) is in her final year at Stirling and is keen to make the most of it.  “It is a big year for me. I’ve got three (STS) tournaments left and I just want to take it all in and enjoy it.” 

 Pinching herself 

 Fleming is practically pinching herself at being tied for the lead heading into the final round of her first STS tournament. She added a one-over 73 to her opening 72.   “I’m obviously happy with where I am in my first Student Tour Series tournament,” said the 18-year-old Irish internationalist. “I haven’t played with Lorna before and it was great playing with her today because she’s an unreal player.   “That’s what we all want: to play with better players so we can test ourselves. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. No one has shot under par yet. If I can make a few putts tomorrow I can hopefully shoot an under par score and see we’ll what happens.”   University of Stirling student Jacob Hodgson made his first competitive hole in one. The 20-year-old first-year maths student, who has had two aces in bounce games, holed out on the 133-yard par-3 14th hole with a gap wedge. Hodgson, who is playing just his second STS event, returned an 80 and sits in joint 40th position.  View latest scores.