STIRLING UNIVERSITY HAS MORE PULL FOR CRAIG HOWIE THAN ANY AMERICAN COLLEGE
If Craig Howie, the first Borderer to win the Scottish boys golf championship, gets his wish, he will be the first winner of the national Under-18s title since James White in 2006 to enrol at the University of Stirling.
Speaking after his victory over Ewan Scott (St Andrews) in the Paul Lawrie Foundation-sponsored championship at Murcar Links, Howie said he was not even considering going to a United States college as recent boy champions such as Paul Ferrier (2007) and Grant Forrest (2010) did.
"Stirling's golfing set-up, with Dean Robertson the coach, really attracts me. I couldn't find anywhere better by going to America," said Howie.
"That’s very refreshing to hear," said David Christie, the University of Stirling's Press Officer.
"One of the aims of the scholarship programme at Stirling and the wider national student scholarship programme Winning Students (which currently supports nine golfers) is to give Scottish talent the platform to remain in Scotland and progress in their sport and their studies."
Stirling's sports performance manager Raleigh Gowie clarified Howie's position as a potential student:
"Craig has been offered a conditional entry to the University of Stirling, starting in September 2012. He requires to obtain certain grades to in his forthcoming Higher exams.He has also been offered a golf scholarship at Stirling dependent on his entry to a degree programme. The last Scottish boys' champion to enter Stirling was James White but there have been a number of Scotland junior internationalists to come to Stirling over the years."
Stirling are cornering the market in golfing talent as the results at last week's British Student Golf Tour Finals at West Lancs underlined - Jack McDonald and Hannah McCook of Stirling won the men's and women's title respectively and the top five finishers in the men's event are all Stirling students.
Recently it was announced that former European Tour pro Andrew Coltart would mentor a leading golfer from the University of Stirling through a dedicated new scholarship.
The scholarship will provide crucial funding support and see Coltart work closely with the selected player, providing coaching tips and passing on his own experiences of life as a professional.It builds on the University's International Sports Scholarship Programme, which supports 18 promising male and female golfers each year, providing funding and academic flexibility so students can excel in their sport and their studies.
Since it was first established more than 30 years ago, the programme has helped many players develop into touring professionals, including Richie Ramsay and Catriona Matthew.
Currently, the men's programme is managed by ex-Tour player Dean Robertson, who has led his charges to the Scottish, British and European Universities team titles.
White and 2011 Scottish Fuels Sutherland Chalice winner Fraser McKenna.
Andrew Coltart said: "I am delighted to be able to provide this opportunity to a gifted young golfer and pass on my experience to hopefully help them make the step into the professional game.The programme at the University of Stirling continues to go from strength to strength and I can't help but be impressed with the set-up and facilities. I must confess I wasn't academically talented enough to get a University scholarship, which is a fantastic way to prepare for a career on and off the golf course."
"Many performance sport programmes just provide technical advice and guidance, but this provides a unique opportunity to work closely with a golfer who has vast experience playing in high pressure situations."
The University's golf programme also receives support from the R&A, who have earmarked Stirling as a model of good practice for sports scholarships.
* Graeme Robertson and Jack McDonald also receive support from Winning Students, Scotland's national sports scholarship programme for student athletes.
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