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Student Series

Lanigan and Orzi victorious on dramatic final day in Rome

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The R&A
12 Oct 23
3 mins
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You don’t have to walk far in Rome to be reminded that the Eternal City is one of the most historical places on the planet. A little piece of golf history was made at Olgiata Golf Club on the outskirts of the Italian capital, just 22 miles from the Colosseum.

Although not quite the gladiators of old, Kate Lanigan and Miguel Orzi had to contest fierce battles to make R&A Student Tour Series history. Irish player Lanigan became the first female Maynooth University player to win a Student Tour Series event, while Orzi goes down in the series record books as the first Italian winner. Lanigan came from five shots behind Halmstad University student Kajsalotta Svarvar to win by a shot. She recorded a closing two-under 71 after rounds of 70 and 73 to finish on five-under 214. University of Modena and Reggio Emilia undergraduate Orzi defeated Stirling University student Ben Brookes at the first play-off hole after the pair had tied on ten-under-par 209. Unexpected Pride “I am really happy to become the first Italian winner in the Student Tour Series,” said Orzi, who is doing a combined degree in business and engineering. “Any time you do something for the first time, you have to feel pride.” Orzi and Brookes matched each other shot for shot with closing 70s, with the Italian birdieing from ten feet on the first play-off hole to win.  He added, “Ben and I had a good battle today and it could have gone either way. He is a good player. I was conscious this morning I was playing well but I started bogey, par, bogey. I had a bit of luck at the fifth hole when I holed a 30-foot birdie putt. I should have holed my bunker shot for eagle at 17 but got unlucky and it lipped out. So bad luck and then good luck but it worked in the end and I’m happy.” St Andrews bound?  Other than winning his first Student Tour Series event, Orzi now has a chance of playing in the final next April at St Andrews. He said, “I’m looking forward to playing more tournaments in the student tour series. To get the chance to play St Andrews, the greatest course in the world, for the first time, and in a competition, will be a dream come true. Great learning experience “This is my first (STS) tournament and I’ve learned a lot. I like that I can speak to other students from other countries, other cultures and universities. I’ve been asking them how they train, how they organise themselves, what a typical day is like and just how they combine golf and schoolwork. It’s been a great learning experience.” 
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Miguel Orzi - Italy

"I like that I can speak to other students from other countries, other cultures and universities. How they train, how they organise, what a typical day is like and just how they combine golf and schoolwork. It’s been a great learning experience.” 

Grinning from ear to ear

Maynooth have plenty of male winners of STS events, including Eoin Murphy who won in Spain last month. Lanigan, who spent her undergrad years at Trinity College Dublin before transferring to Maynooth to do a Masters degree in Sustainability, was grinning ear to ear, especially since she started the final round with a bogey at the first hole.  “It was news to me that I’m Maynooth’s first women winner. I’m only in my second week at Maynooth, so do this is fantastic,” Lanigan said. “It’s also my first win in five years since the 2018 Irish Girls Close Championship, so it’s been a long time since I won.” Svarvar began the final round with a-four shot lead on Darcey Harry, who attends Royal Agricultural University. But the diminutive Swede slipped to a final round 77.  “I had absolutely no expectations today,” Lanigan added. “I was just trying to finish second or third to be honest, but I made birdie at the fifth hole and she made bogey and I thought I might have a chance.”

17th hole crucial 

Further birdies at the 11th and 15th holes put Lanigan into a tie on five-under par with the Swede, before the 17th proved crucial. Lanigan’s second shot to the par five rolled down a cart path to the right of the fairway and she could only chip back into play. She then got up and down from 50 yards for a par. Svarvar, meanwhile missed a short putt for par and fell one shot behind.  She said, “It was only on the 17th that I went ahead. We had a great battle and she’s a fantastic player – I wish I could putt like her – but I was glad to make par on the 18th to finally win after five long years. Not sure how I’ll celebrate tonight; I think I’ll let the boys decide for me. They’re used to celebrating Maynooth wins.” The Student Tour Series now moves on to Portugal in February at Vilamoura, Le Golf National, France in March before the final in St Andrews in April.

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