Student Series

Svarvar and Walker in Roman tandem

The R&A

11 Oct 23

3 mins

Halmstad University’s Kajsalotta Svarvar and Simon Walker of Maynooth University are matching each other shot-for-shot at Olgiata Golf Club, Rome in The R&A Student Tour Series – Italy. They hold the lead in the women’s and men’s event heading into the final day.

Both players have recorded consecutive 69s over the opening two rounds to be on eight-under-par. Walker is one-shot ahead of England’s Ben Brooks of the University of Stirling and Italy’s Miguel Orzi, who attends the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. Svarvar is four shots in front of Welsh player Darcey Harry, who attends Royal Agricultural University. Irishman Walker is seeking his second Student Tour Series win following last season’s triumph at Troia Golf Resort. Svarvar is making her Student Tour Series debut. She is trying to make it two wins from two for Halmstad, following teammate Elice Fredriksson’s win in Alicante last month.

Family bragging rights

Svarvar now owns bragging rights in her own household. Her 138 total is much improved on what her mother shot for 36 holes on the Olgiata layout when she played the 1991 Rome Classic on the Ladies' European Tour. Katarina Michols shot 73 and 80 over the Olgiata Course for 153 strokes. She went on to return further scores of 79 and 77 to finish on 21-over 309 to place equal 54^th. Naturally the course has changed in the intervening 32 years. The conditions are different too. It’s warm and there is no wind to speak of, ideal conditions for scoring. Besides, the quiet 19-year-old is far too modest to beat her own drum, even if she’s making her Student Tour Series debut. “I don’t know what my mum scored here and it doesn’t matter,” Svarvar said. “I don’t think even she remembers. She just told me my driver would be my most important club because it’s important to keep the ball on the fairway and out of the trees. I’ve managed to do that for two rounds. My driving has been very good.”

And a hot putter

The sports science student moved to eight-under through the first 11 holes. A double bogey at the 13^th from a rare, missed fairway set her back. However, she rebounded with three consecutive birdies before a hiccup at the par-5, 17^th hole when she needed two chip shots to find the green, the first the result of a poor lie. “My putter was very hot today, much better than yesterday, and that helped.”

Simon Walker - Ireland

“I’ve been pretty solid the last two rounds because I’m staying present, trying to take it one hole at a time. It comes from not doing that the last few tournaments. I had a good round recently and I’ve tried to learn from it.”

Sticking to the process

“I’m not thinking about where I am on the leaderboard,” said Svarvar, who is 539^th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking®. “I’m just going to stick to my processes and see what happens.” Walker is another who’s trying to adhere to process. Although he won at Troia, one of Europe’s hardest golf courses, the Masters student (finance) has struggled to stay patient lately. A good round at Royal Portrush in the recent North of Ireland Amateur has put the Roscommon Golf Club member back on track.

Looking forward, not behind

“I’ve been pretty solid the last two rounds because I’m staying present, trying to take it one hole at a time,” Walker said. “It sounds a bit cliché but it comes from not doing that the last few tournaments. I had a good round recently and I’ve tried to learn from it.” That good outing was a second round 67 in the North of Ireland Championship at Royal Portrush to go with an opening 77, and 81 and 80 over the last 36 holes. He added, “I’ve just made that round the focus this week, how I can stay present, stay focused on myself and how I can make the most of whatever game I’ve brought with me. I’ve done that well so far.” It worked in round two. He bogeyed the third hole but bounced back with three straight birdies. “It’s learning not to carry forward mistakes, not dwell on bogeys. In the past I’ve made them too big a deal so I’m just trying to focus on what’s in front of me rather than what’s behind me.”

Potential dogfight

What lies in front of Walker is a potential dogfight against Brooks who is chasing his first Student Tour Series win after some good top-ten performances, including losing in a play-off at Infinitum Golf in Spain during the 2022/23 season. Orzi, meanwhile, has local knowledge. This is his fourth tournament over the Olgiata layout. He didn’t drop a shot during the second round, the only player, male or female, to go bogey free.

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