The R&A is increasing funding for its Golf Bursary Scheme by offering awards of up to £5,000 for players of international status.
Commenting on the changes, Duncan Weir, the R&A’s golf development secretary, said: “These changes have been made in an attempt to make our scheme a more viable alternative to the NCAA scholarships offered in the United States.
As part of the scheme, all 120 existing bursaries have been increased from £1,250 to £1,500 and seven male and four female golfers have been offered elite awards ranging from £2,000 to £5,000.”
Included in the eleven are Scott Godfrey, the English Amateur Champion and Stuart Wilson, a Scottish International and the second top amateur in the Open at Lytham. Both have been awarded the maximum of £5,000 while the four ladies to benefit with awards of £2,500 are Lynn Kenny, Lesley Mackay, Sophie Walker and Clare Queen, the 2001 British Girls Champion.
All bursaries, which are reviewed annually, are given for each year of a student’s course to help offset educational expenses and are not restricted to meeting costs associated with competitive golf.
It is acknowledged that the R&A Golf Bursary Scheme has contributed to the improvement in the overall standard of university golf and the results of this are no better shown than in the performances of Maria Hjorth and Catriona Matthew, both graduates of the University of Stirling where bursaries were first introduced.
This year on the LPGA Tour Hjorth finished 5th in the money list, with Matthew in 10th place while in Europe, Hjorth topped the earnings table with Matthew 6th.
Royal & Ancient Golf Club www.RandA.org