Varsity Golf: McDonald five clear after windy start

Stirling’s Jack McDonald holds a five-shot lead after the opening round of the BUCS Student Tour Championship finals at Crail.

Over the same course where he finished fifth in the Battle Trophy on Sunday, last season’s Scottish Golfer of the Year shot a one-over-par 73 in the windswept conditions to give himself a handy early cushion in the 72-hole event.

Leading the chase are two of his Stirling team-mates, Patrick Spraggs and Michael Howard, as well as Patrick Mullins (University of Wales) after they all opened with 78s.

In the women’s event, also being played over the Fife course, Gabrielle MacDonald (St Andrews) and Katie Bradbury (Exeter) are sharing the lead after matching 77s put them two ahead of Rebecca Gibb (Kingston), with Miranda Brain (St Andrews) two further back.