A new collegiate tournament being held at St Andrews has "huge potential" according to a spokesperson for St Andrews Links Trust, who have partnered with NBC Sports to launch the event.
The St Andrews Links Collegiate will be held at the Home of Golf between 23 and 25 October, with men’s and women’s teams from US-based Georgetown University, the University of North Carolina, the University of Notre Dame and Vanderbilt University competing.
The Jubilee Course will host the opening two days of the event with a stroke play format, before a final day of match play takes place at The Old Course.
Tom Knapp, NBC Sports Executive VP Golf, explained how the event will improve its coverage of college golf. He said: “We are honored and proud to partner with St Andrews Links Trust on this new collegiate invitational at the Home of Golf. The St Andrews Links Collegiate elevates and enhances our already impactful college golf platform.”
St Andrews Links Trust CEO Neil Coulson is enthusiastic about the partnership too. He said: “We are delighted to partner with NBC Sports to bring the first collegiate event to the Home of Golf, creating a new invitational which will see some of the game’s brightest young stars from four distinguished institutions compete in the birthplace of the game.”
While the inaugural tournament is still several months away, there are already plans to widen its scope in the future beyond US-based university participation.
A spokesperson for St Andrews Links Trust explained: “We have been speaking with various bodies regarding wider student participation in the St Andrews Links Collegiate as we look to establish the event and believe there is huge potential to include other institutions as it develops over time.
"We look forward to this inaugural event being staged successfully in October and will continue to engage with other bodies, at home and abroad, to enhance the scope of the event and ensure it is regarded as one of the premier collegiate events in the world of golf.”
That should go some way to addressing concerns from pros Lee Westwood and Richie Ramsay, who questioned why the inaugural tournament won't feature any UK universities.
Following the announcement on Twitter from St Andrews Links, Scot Ramsey responded by asking: "So u putting on a college event but don’t invite a UK university ??????????? Please explain this." Later, LIV Golf player Westwood wrote: “Is there a reason that a UK university hasn’t been invited?”
So u putting on a college event but don’t invite a UK university ??????????? Please explain this https://t.co/iy4i6YQF1kJuly 26, 2023
Is there a reason that a UK university hasn’t been invited?July 26, 2023
For those participating in the inaugural tournament, the courses are sure to offer a stern test. The Jubilee Course is considered by many the most challenging at St Andrews, and features fast, undulating greens, pot bunkers and dunes.
Meanwhile, The Old Course needs little introduction and hosted the historic 150th Open in 2022, which was won by Cameron Smith. It is known for its many bunkers and other potential pitfalls including the Valley of Sin. The Old Course will also hold the 49th Walker Cup in September.
