Student Series

Martin and Nilsson lead at Student Tour Series opener in Spain

The R&A

12 Sep 23

3 mins

Lucas Martin and Hanna Nilsson shine in opening round of R&A Student Tour Series – Spain to kick off 2023/24 season.

Yorkshire golfers are known for having a bit of grit and determination. Think Masters winner Danny Willett and six-time Ryder Cupper Howard Clark and you get the picture. Barnsley-born Martin displayed the same dogged determination as that pair in the opening round of The R&A Student Tour Series – Spain at La Sella Golf Club near Alicante. The UCLAN (University of Central Lancashire) student leads the men’s event by one shot. Halmstad University’s Nilsson enjoys a two-stroke advantage in the women’s tournament.

Not the best of starts

Martin didn’t get off to the best of starts in the first event of the 2023/24 Student Tour Series over the course that staged this year’s €1 million La Sella Open on the Ladies' European Tour. He opened with a bogey, added a double bogey seven at the 3rd and was four-over-par after eight holes. That’s when the Rotherham Golf Club member – Willett is a fellow member – decided to call on that Yorkshire grit. “I just tried to dig in and get a couple of shots back on the back nine and all of sudden before you know it, I’m on a bit of a run,” said the 20-year-old, who is ranked 2,312th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®).

Some run

It was some run. He played the back nine in 30 shots, six under, to return a three-under 69. He holds a one-shot lead over Hartpury University student Charlie Robb. Maynooth University player Eoin Murphy and Robert Cannon of Limerick University share third place on one under. Ryan Griffin, the defending champion and 2022/23 order of merit winner, sits in equal 21st place. The Maynooth student was sitting nicely on one under after 14 holes but finished his last two holes in 14 shots with a double bogey on the 17th, and a triple on the final hole to post a four-over 76.

Hanna Nilsson - Sweden

“I think I’m better focussed mentally. My iron game is better, which gives me more chances to get closer to the flag. My short game has improved too so I don’t worry as much if I miss a green.”

In the zone

While Martin was aware of where he was in relation to par after eight holes, he had no idea what was going on until he lipped out a chip for birdie on the 17th hole. One of his playing partners had to tell him just how well he was doing. “He told me that would have been five birdies in a row,” the 20-year-old said. “I didn’t even realise. I was kind of in a zone where I was just hitting shots.” Martin, who is studying golf management at UCLAN, spent two years at Edge College in Portugal before transferring to UCLAN. He’s a seasoned Student Tour Series player who admits he hasn’t “played brilliantly in them so far.” Fifth place in this event last year is his best showing. However, he’s had a fairly good summer with eighth in the Scottish Men’s Open and third in the Yorkshire Amateur Championship last month. “My game has been trending nicely this summer. We’ve got good players in our Yorkshire squad, and we all push each other on,” he added. He certainly pushed on over La Sella’s back nine.

Bogey free over last 10

Nilsson also took advantage of La Sella’s back nine to go to the top of the leaderboard. She struggled with iron play and chipping on the front nine. The sports science student played the first eight holes in one over but didn’t drop a shot over the final ten holes. She made three birdies in that stretch to score 71, one-under. She is two shots better than St Andrews student Lucy Jamieson, who returned a 73. Nilsson’s Halmstad teammate Elise Fredriksson and Kate Lanigan of Maynooth are tied third on three over. Stirling’s Lorna McClymont returned a four-over 76. The two-time order of merit winners sits in joint fifth place. “I think the back nine here is easier,” Nilsson said. “I started hitting fairways and greens and my putting was better.”

Better focussed mentally

Like Martin, Nilsson has much experience in the Student Tour Series. She recorded a fourth-place finish in France in 2022, and says she is a better player as a result of playing in The R&A initiative. “I think I’m better focussed mentally," she said. "My iron game is better, which gives me more chances to get closer to the flag. My short game has improved too so I don’t worry as much if I miss a green.” The 20-year-old arrived in Spain with three wins in Sweden this summer, and is ranked 1,240th on the WAGR table. “The most important thing is to be mentally focussed and that lets me play better golf.” Nilsson and Martin hope to go on to become tour professionals but say their degrees will hopefully let them work in the golf business should that dream not come to fruition.

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