2005 Bobby Jones scholars announced

The University of St Andrews has selected four exceptional students to participate in the prestigious Bobby Jones Scholarship programme with Atlanta’s Emory University.

Since its inception over 25 years ago, ‘The Robert T Jones Memorial Trust Scholarship’ – named after the American golfer who achieved his most significant golfing victory at St Andrews – the University has played host to over 100 Emory University students to St Andrews with Emory hosting the same number of St Andrews students in return. The scholarship has forged a permanent bond between St Andrews and Emory, of which Jones was an alumnus.

Local hero Jones first arrived at St Andrews’ Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 1921, at just 19 years of age, to compete in the British Open. As an amateur, he went on to win 13 of the world’s toughest championships and, in 1930, won the British and United States Open and Amateur championships – the first Grand Slam – at St Andrews.

The town of St Andrews honoured Bobby with the Freedom of the Burgh in 1958, and it was during his acceptance speech that Jones famously said: “I could take out of my life everything except my experiences at St Andrews and I would still have had a rich and full life.”

At the age of 46, he was diagnosed with a rare disease which resulted in progressive paralysis and Jones died in 1971 at the age of 69. The scholarship was established by the University five years later “to perpetuate his memory in the hearts and minds of young people by creating a permanent memorial to his sense of values and character”.

Jones Scholars are selected on the basis of their academic ability and personal attributes – golf skills are not part of the criteria. There are eight Jones Scholars each year, four at each University.

Jones Scholarships are awarded for one year and students winning their respective institutions’ strong competition for these coveted awards spend that year living and studying in the States/St Andrews, further developing the transatlantic ties which were so important to Bobby Jones.

The 2005 / 2006 St Andrews students who will head to Emory later this year are: David Jones, Gordon Jones, Harriet Andrews, Fergus Neville. They are pictured with Vice Principal (External Relations) Stephen Magee and the current Emory students on exchange to St Andrews.

PICTURE CAPTION:

Back Row: British Scholars to America 2005/2006 – David Jones, Gordon Jones, Stephen Magee, Harriet Andrews, Fergus Neville.

Front Row: US Scholars at St Andrews 2004/2005 – Euler Bropleh, Joshua McCaleb, Emily Hunter, Pete Sherlock

ENDS

Issued by Beattie Media On behalf of the University of St Andrews Contact Gayle Cook, Press Officer on 01334 467227 / 462529, mobile 07900 050 103, or email gec3@st- andrews.ac.uk Ref: 2005 Bobby Jones scholars 230305.doc View the latest University press releases at http://www.st- andrews.ac.uk