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Student Series
Walker and McClymont out in front ahead of final round Portugal battle
02 Feb 23
3 mins
A familiar story is developing at Troia Golf in the third edition of the R&A Student Tour Series – Portugal. Simon Walker and Lorna McClymont are looking to extend Maynooth and Stirling University’s dominance over the tough Troia course.
Walker takes a one-stroke lead into the final round as he hopes to emulate former Maynooth winners Paul Conroy, Ryan Griffin and Jordan Boles. (Boles and Griffin were joint winners last year.) Women’s defending champion Lorna McClymont is looking to make it three Stirling wins out of three to go with Louise Duncan’s 2020 triumph. (Covid forced cancellation of the 2021 event.) She holds a five-shot lead with 18 holes to play.Bogey free
Walker did what no to other player, male or female, as done over the tough Troia course over the last two days: keep a bogey off the card. Two birdies and 16 pars has the 21-year-old accounting and finance student sitting on 1-over 145, one better than Edge Golf College player Noah Brunner, who recorded a best of the week 68. “I had a bad start yesterday with three bogeys in my first five holes, but I’ve only had one bogey since the fifth yesterday (at the 18th),” said Walker, who finished joint fifth here last year. “I’m just trying to hit fairways and greens and play risk free, keep the ball out of trouble and take my chances when they come. I had a lot of chances today and didn’t convert as many as I’d have liked.” Those chances came at the par-4, 2nd hole when the plus 4.6. handicapper from Roscommon Golf Club holed an eight-foot birdie putt, then at 13 with a five footer for a three.
Simon Walker - Maynooth University
"I’m just trying to hit fairways and greens and play risk free, keep the ball out of trouble and take my chances when they come. I had a lot of chances today and didn’t convert as many as I’d have liked.”
A mental challenge
“I learned last year that you have to limit the big numbers to do well around here,” said Walker, who is in his third and final year of his undergraduate studies but is contemplating a Masters degree. “If you can do that then playing this course is easier because it’s more of a mental challenge here. You have to stay calm, not get angry at yourself because once you do you can rack up big numbers.”Brunner employs local knowledge
Swiss player Brunner didn’t record many big numbers either, but then he’s drawing on local knowledge: Edge Golf College is based at Troia. “I’ve played a lot of golf around here so I know what’s required to score well – fairways and greens and stay out of trouble – but that’s my best score by four shots,” the second year student said. Brunner wants to work with elite tour professionals when he finishes his degree. That’s if he doesn’t succeed as a tour professional. The way he played in the second round suggests he has a chance of becoming an elite tour pro himself. His score is the second best in this event since Maynooth student Alan Hill shot 66 in the opening round of the 2020 tournament. Hartbury University student Eliot Baker came close to matching Brunner’s 68. The Englishman returned a 3-under 69 and sits in a three-way tie for third place.
Switzerland's Noah Brunner shot the round of the week so far around a treacherous Troia layout with a four-under-par 68 propelling him up the leaderboard into second.