Emma Fleming and Judd Sundelson didn’t suffer from opening night nerves on their debuts in the R&A Student Tour Series.
Anything but: 18-year-old University College Dublin student Fleming holds the first-round lead in the women’s STS – Portugal tournament. Sundelson, of Nottingham University, is tied at the top in the men’s event.
Fleming, who is studying economics and finance at UCD, fashioned a level-par 72 around the tricky Pinhal Course in Vilamoura. She holds a one-shot lead over Halmstad University student Thea Fridh, and two-time STS Order of Merit Winner Lorna McClymont of the University of Stirling. Fridh is also making her STS debut along with elder sister Maja.
Sundelson shares the lead on two-under-par with University of Stirling student Ben Brookes and William Leu of Halmstad University.
Just two bogeys
Elm Park Golf and Sports Club member Fleming only dropped two shots around Pinhal. She made bogeys at the 9th and 12th holes, which she offset with birdies at the 10th and 13th holes.
“It’s a lovely golf course but it has small, narrow greens and tight fairways so I changed my game plan,” said Fleming, who arrived at Vilamoura after placing 10thin the Portuguese Internacional Ladies' Amateur Championship. “I played a bit smarter than I normally do because I’m not always great with course management. I didn’t hit too many wild shots, and just tried to keep the ball in play. There’s a couple of tricky tee shots and a few hard shots into greens to catch you out.”
The plus 4.2 handicapper began her university career at UCD in September, but couldn’t play in the opening two STS events of the current 2023/24 season because of clashes.
An amazing experience
“I’ve been looking forward to playing in the Student Tour Series,” she said. “Oh my gosh, it’s a great set up. It’s very much the European version of American college golf, and for us to play on courses like this is fantastic. It’s an amazing experience, and I’m looking to use these events to help improve my game.”
Ditto for Fridh. The 20-year-old is in her second year of a sports science degree at Halmstad. “It’s really fun and a great experience to play with students from other countries, not just from Sweden,” Fridh said. “I want to turn pro eventually, and this series will hopefully make me a better player.”
McClymont, the highest ranked player at 126th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®), has five STS wins to her name. She arrived in Vilamoura after a fifth-place finish in the Portuguese Internacional Ladies' Amateur.
“My game is in good shape, but these greens are small and tricky and I just got caught out a couple of times,” the sports studies student said.
Making up for lost time
Sundelson is studying finance and accounting, beginning his university degree in 2021. The 21-year-old has been unable to play in the STS until now. The Johannesburg native is hoping to make up for lost time.
"I’ve been looking forward to playing in the Student Tour Series,” he said. “It’s amazing. It’s very professional. It’s got great exposure. It is well run with lots of good golfers and great courses. It’s a great challenge that will be good preparation for the African Amateur in three weeks’ time.”
Brookes finished second in Italy in the last STS event, losing in a play-off to Miguel Orzi. The Stirling player started with three straight birdies and played the front in three-under 33. A bogey at the 10th followed by eight straight pars got him into the clubhouse in 70 strokes.
“I took great confidence from Italy,” the 22-year-old said. “It was nice to know I could play well under pressure which will help me going forward.”
Due a win
Leu has five top-tens in the STS, including second place at Le Golf National in France to former teammate Jesper Littorin during the 2022/23 season. He feels it’s time he joined Littorin in the W column.
“I do think I’m due a win,” Leu admitted. “France was a big loss for me but hopefully come Saturday I can be in contention to get a chance to win again.”
The field found Pinhal’s tiny putting surfaces challenging. University of Bournemouth student Jack Dart found a unique way of dealing with the microscopic 17th green. He made an albatross on the uphill, 542-yard par-5, holing out his second shot from 147 yards with a pitching wedge. It helped him return a one-over-par 73 to put him in joint eighth place.
