The University of Birmingham have come away with two titles from the BUSA* Golf Team Championship finals, making history along the way.

The fourth team beat Liverpool 1sts to become the first ever 4th team to win the Shield title which has previously only been won by first and second teams, while the USB firsts overcame tough competition from St Andrews in the Championship final.

This comes a week after Birmingham Applied Golf Management student Sam Riddell picked up silver at the Individual Championships in the Forest of Arden Golf Club in Warwickshire.

Held at Lindrick Golf Club in Nottinghamshire, both team finals held yesterday on Wednesday 30th, were close after the morning foursomes, with the Trophy finals tied at 1½ - 1½ while USB 2-1 ahead of St Andrews in the Championship final.

The afternoon singles were interrupted by heavy rain which flooded the course flooded in places, but after a 90 minute recess play was resumed.

The USB 4ths, Sam Johnston, Kevin Campbell, Alex Bishop, Tim Bamber, Lauren Spray, Jess Florey and reserve Sam Carr, all of whom are Applied Golf Management students, then returned to the course to win five of the six singles matches and complete the final with a 6½ - 2½ victory.

Meanwhile the Championship Final was shaping up to be the closest match of the day, going down to the final hole of the last group out on the course. The scores were tied at 4 - 4, and the light fading rapidly, but USB’s Matthew Welsh kept his cool and, much to the elation of fellow team mates Ben Driver, Sam Riddell, Andrew Smedley, Lucy Williams, Ed Parker (also all AGMS students) and reserve Alex Morton, won the 18th completing a 5-4 win for Birmingham.

Ben Driver, who started the season as a second team player, was later named player of the tournament after winning all four of his matches in the semi-finals and finals of the Championship.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

Further information:

Lucy Hood - PR, Media and Promotions Officer, University Sport Birmingham

tel: 0121 414 2262 / email: l.hood@bham.ac.uk

Notes to Editor:

University Sport Birmingham:

University Sport Birmingham aims to enhance the sporting experience of the University and its wider community by providing opportunities at all levels, from beginner to world-class performer.

The University has some of the best sports facilities in the country, providing sport and recreation for all, whether a student, member of staff or member of the community.  It is a Centre for Excellence for many sports including athletics, squash, hockey, gymnastics and triathlon.

The University offers Sports Scholarships to support students who compete at international level of their sport. Past recipients of a Scholarship include Allison Curbishley (Athletics 400m Olympic finalist); Shelley Newman (nee Drew, Athletics discus Commonwealth Games medalist); Tom Bertram (Olympic Hockey team) and Melanie Easter (Paralympic Swimming Champion).

For further details please contact

*BUSA - The British University Sports Association (BUSA) is the governing body of student competitive sport. It organises the inter-university sports programme nationally, as well as co-ordinating the UK representative team for the World University Championships and World University Games. For more information see www.busa.org.uk Birmingham University has been consistently ranked in the top three of the BUSA league.