US COLLEGE NEWS

Sammy Vass improving as she gains

experience of American conditions

Tain teenager Sammy Vass - she has her 18th birthday earlier this month - is beginning to find her feet on the highly-competitive US college circuit.

In her latest competition as a University of Central Florida student, Sammy broke 80 twice in the three-round Pat Bradley Invitational at Pelican Preserve Golf Club, Fort Myers in Florida.

Sammy, pictured right, has not yet made the UCF team but her scores are getting closer to those who are in the five-strong line-up. The college policy of taking Sammy to the competition as a non-team member to gain experience will eventually pay good dividends.

Sammy scores 78, 80 and 78 for a 2o-over-par total of 236 over the 6,193yd, par-72 course. She finished 65th in a field of 81 players.

Lauren Blease (Florida International University) from Kingston, Surrey was the highest placed British student behind individual winner Shena Yang (South Florida) who scored 68, 68 and 72 for eight-under-par 208 and a three-shot win from UCF freshman Valentina Fontaine (69-71-71).

Lauren had rounds of 67 (the lowest of the first round), 77 and 74 for a two-over total of 218, which earned her joint eighth position.

Stacey Rodger (Missouri State) from West Hove, Sussex finished 14th with scores of 78, 74 and 69 (lowest of the third round) for a total of 221.

Andrea Downer (Murray State) from Bramley, Surrey shared 35th place with scores of 73, 76 and 78 for 227.

Nikki Dunn (Florida Interntional), a freshman from Harrogate, Yorkshire had scores of 81, 82 and 86 for 249 and a share of 75th place.

Furman University (870) won the team title ahead of South Florida (877) and University of Central Florida (879) in the 15-team line-up.

MARK THOMSON IN TOP 10 AND WINNING TEAM

AT ARNOLD PALMER GOLF CLUB

Mark Thomson (Ohio Valley) from Broughty Ferry tied for sixth place and helped his college win the team event at the WVIAC Championship at Arnold Palmer Golf Club, Stonewall Jackson Resort near Roanoke, West Virginia.

Over a par-72 course of 6726yd, Mark had rounds of 75, 80 and 77 for a total of 232 - nine shots behind the four-shot winner, Ryan Terdik (Concord) who scored 72, 71 and 80 for 223.

Caldwell Golf Club member Alasdair Forsythe (Davis & Elkins, West Virginia) finished joint 11th with scores of 79, 80 and 79 for 238.

Mark Thomson's team-mates, American J R Jones and Paul Raines from Maidenhead finished runner-up and tied 14th respectively with totals of 227 and 239.

Glasgow's David Shields (Davis & Elkins) had rounds of 79, 85 and 79 for 249 which earned him 23rd place in a field of 65 players.

Robert McCleneghan (Davis & Elkins), also from Glasgow, finished joint 40th on 253, made up of rounds of 92, 76 and 85.

Thomson's effort helped Ohio Valley University (926) win the team title ahead of Concord Unversity (929) with Davis & Elkins College (965) joint third with Fairmont State University in a field of 13 teams.

It was Ohio Valley's first team championship win since 2003. Known as the "Fighting Scots," Ohio Valley are certainly glad they have one in Mark Thomson in their line-up this season.