NEWS RELEASE
Abertay Golf Ace Bags R&A Bursary
18 February 2008
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St Andrews has awarded a record number of golf bursaries this year and recipients come from as far afield as Belgium, New Zealand and Gambia.
Closer to home Abertay University final year social science student and member of the Elite Athletes Programme Steven Hume also benefited.
Steven was awarded a £1500 bursary to help him complete his studies while still playing competitive golf.
Dundonian Steven, who plays at Murrayshall in Scone, is delighted to have been chosen from the thousands of people who apply to the R&A every year.
He said: “I’ve always been quite sporty. I used to play football and was involved in swimming and athletics.
“When I was 14 I was given a set of clubs and took the game up from there.
“Since then I’ve progressed steadily and last year I won the Men’s County Championships. Winning this gave me the opportunity to play golf for Perth and Kinross.
“For the last two years Perth and Kinross has made it to the area team finals where they finished third and second respectively.
“This year we hope to go one better and I’m pleased to be part of the squad.
“This bursary is a real opportunity for me to improve my game while keeping up my studies.
“Competitive golf can be expensive and the money will pay for coaching, equipment and tournament costs.
“The new season starts in March and I’ll be playing the full Scottish Amateur Circuit this year.
“By the end of this year I hope to get into the Men’s Scottish Squad and the money will help me achieve this by freeing up some time.
“In the back of my mind I still have hopes of playing professionally however I am aware of the competitive nature of the game and how hard I’ll have to work to get there.”
Professor of Sport and Exercise Science at Abertay, Steve Olivier, said: “We are delighted that Steven has been awarded one of these prestigious bursaries.
“The award reflects Steven's talent and hard work and ties in well with the recent emphasis on sport performance and participation at Abertay.
“All of us at Abertay wish Steven all the best for his sporting and academic success.”
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