A University of Stirling golf scholar and the team’s performance coach proved to be a winning combination as they helped Team Europe lift this year’s coveted Arnold Palmer Cup.
Business and Marketing student Mathias Eggenberger was one of 10 players who took part in the student equivalent of the Ryder Cup, making the selection for a second year running to reclaim the transatlantic title.
The University’s high performance golf coach Dean Robertson also joined the team as Assistant Coach, backing up Europe’s Head Coach Janice Moodie and guiding the squad to victory.
The three-day competition, named after legendary player Arnold Palmer, took place at Formby Golf Club between 24 and 26 June.
The tournament pits the best golfers at European universities against their American counterparts and is recognised as a springboard for emerging talent.
Mathias, from Switzerland, was selected following his win at the R&A Foundation Scholars Tournament at St Andrews in April.
The student, who this week graduated from Stirling, won Europe’s second match against Will Zalatoris and controlled much of the match. He took the lead with birdie at the fourth and pushed his advantage to three-up after a birdie at the seventh. Europe went on to defeat the United States, 18.5-11.5.
Mathias said: “The Arnold Palmer Cup is the pinnacle of collegiate golf and I was so proud, excited and honoured to be a part of Janice and Dean’s victorious European team this year and avenge last year’s defeat at Rich Harvest Farms in the USA.
“The University of Stirling performance golf programme has been pivotal to my ongoing development and success. Without question, the skills, habit and mind set I have learned helped me to perform so well under pressure.”
Performance golf coach Dean Robertson said: “Mathias has been an outstanding scholar-athlete and excellent ambassador for our institution. It was such a huge personal goal of his to play his way onto this year’s European Arnold Palmer Cup team that to see him play so well and contribute to Team Europe success was hugely rewarding, not just to him, but to all involved in his development at Stirling. A truly wonderful sign-off to a wonderful collegiate career.”
Stirling – Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence - was the first university in the UK to offer golf scholarships with R&A and has supported more than 180 student golfing athletes to date.
Notes for editors
- Background information
Media enquiries to Corrie Campbell, Communications Officer on 01786 466 169 or c.r.campbell@stir.ac.uk.
Notes for editors:
Find out more about the University of Stirling’s International Sports Scholarship Programme in golf here.
Find out more about the Arnold Palmer Cup here.
Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence
The Scottish Government designated the University of Stirling as Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence in 2008. Our mission is to deliver the best for Scottish sport through the powerful and inspirational combination of sport and education. We are at the heart of Scottish sport, preparing athletes to perform on the world stage, enabling students to develop their skill sets for excellent careers and producing innovative research to improve the health of the nation. Our sport-centred campus brings together the people shaping Scottish sport, creating a critical mass of sporting expertise and excellence.
Find out more at: www.stir.ac.uk/sport-at-stirling.