Briggs and Booth win at Moray

EILIDH Briggs and David Booth scored a Stirling double as the individual phase of the Scottish Universities Championships reached a conclusion at Moray Golf Club in Lossiemouth.

Seven shots clear heading into the final two rounds, Briggs just hung on to claim the women’s title as she closed with scores of 74 (New Course) and 78 (Old Course) to win by a single stroke in the end from her fast- finishing team-mate Hannah McCook.

The triumph completed a clean sweep for Briggs after winning the other three Scottish University Order of Merit events earlier in the season.

“This is my first year at Stirling so to have played so consistently is very pleasing,” said the 18-year-old, who underlined her potential when reaching the final of the Scottish Women’s Championship at Machrihanish last year.

Her final round included a double-bogey at the last, allowing McCook to close within a shot after she signed off with rounds of 70 and 76.

“I was going along fine until then,” added Briggs, “though all credit to Hannah for pushing me all the way as she played well today.”

Booth stormed to a six-shot victory in the men’s event to add to the Scottish Youths’ title he won at The Roxburghe in 2008.

The Englishman finished with a total of 278 to win comfortably from Stirling team-mate Darren Timms, who had led by three shots at the halfway stage. Aberdeen’s Keith Shanks finished third on 287, closely followed by Zander Culverwell (Stirling) and Nick McAndrew (Aberdeen) on 288.

The action continues today with the opening rounds of the team match-play events.