Top student golfers win support

Three female golfers have been given prestigious scholarships to help them combine their studies at the University of St Andrews with their sport.

Ailsa Summers, Gabrielle Macdonald and Gemma Bradbury have each been selected to receive a scholarship of up to £5,500 on tailored support in golf.

Winning Students scholarships are designed to give students performing at the highest level a platform to excel both on an academic and sporting front and are awarded each year.

The Winning Students network has ten core scholarship sports, including golf, and athletes are nominated by their governing body against strict academic and sporting criteria.

These scholarships provide additional support over and above that provided by the University Golf Development programme and, in some cases, complement the support received from the SportScotland Scottish Institute of Sport.

Debby Sargent, Performance Sport Manager at the University said: “Both competitive golf and going to university are expensive ventures in the current climate, and maintaining financial stability to allow students to excel at both is increasingly difficult.

“The Winning Students scholarships provide additional income to individual golf athletes, which complements University of St Andrews scholarships and bursary opportunities.

“This allows them to embrace all the opportunities that being in the “Home of Golf”, playing University golf and entering National and International competitions can afford.”

All three students were delighted to win the awards.

Gabrielle Macdonald hopes the scholarship will allow her to play for Scotland one day.

She said: “Developing my golf throughout my time at university is one of my main priorities.

“Continuous improvement for me in golf will hopefully lead to gaining a full international cap on the Scottish Ladies team.”

Gemma Bradbury hopes to reach the top level of amateur golf and one day gain a cap for Great Britain and Ireland.

Ailsa Summers said: “As a student at the University of St Andrews and with the support from Winning Students, I hope to develop my golf game in the next few years.

“I want to develop my understanding and experience, to continue to learn from my mistakes and adapt accordingly.

“I would ideally be at a level to contend in the highest level of amateur golf after university, and maybe turn professional if my ability allows.”

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Issued by the Press Office, University of St Andrews

Contact Fiona MacLeod on 01334 462108 / 0771 414 0559.

Ref: (golfers 09/04/13)

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