News

Durham Rookie Tops the Order of Merit

(18 March 2005)

First year student, Roberto Laino has finished top of the North East Universities Golf League.

He managed to clinch the top spot by firing a final round 68 (2 under par) at Ramside Golf Club, where matches determining the rankings take place each week. With this, he succeeded in knocking Northumbria’s Alan Cranston off the top spot, who had been leading by a point and shot a final round of 70 (level par).

This league is made up of teams from the major universities in the area (Durham, Newcastle, Teesside, Northumbria and Sunderland).

Each week a team selects six players to compete, who according to their place after playing, are awarded points. For example, first place gets fifteen points, second place twelve points, and so forth. At the end of the season all the points are added up, and the team with the most points wins. The team league was won by Northumbria, but fortunately, the individual title went to Roberto.

The top eight players from the North East Universities Golf League went on to play in a knock-out match play competition, in which Roberto and Durham University team mate, Will Shucksmith have now reached the semi-finals.

The St Aidan’s psychology student will be one to look out for in the future, playing off scratch, he has already had a number of impressive achievements in his young life.

Having started playing golf at the age of six, in 2001 at the age of fifteen he won the Faldo Junior series. His prize was 10 days of intensive coaching with Nick Faldo, the 6-time major winner, in California.

Having been selected for both the England U18 squad and a national coaching scheme for two years thereafter, he is at present a TASS (Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme) athlete, and also receives and R&A Bursary.

Only a first year now, keep your eyes peeled for his progress, because he could achieve great success in the years to come.

For more information contact: Joy Davis Public Relations Tel:0191 334 6803 e-mail: joy.davis@durham.ac.uk