Golf Scholars Claim Historic Double in R&A Student Tour Series
St Andrews scholars secure back to back Men’s and Women’s titles in Europe’s premier university golf circuit.
The University of St Andrews has once again dominated the R&A Student Tour Series, with golf scholars Caitlin Maurice and Ollie George claiming both the Women’s and Men’s Order of Merit titles for the 2025–26 season. Their success marks the second consecutive year the University has secured the prestigious double, following victories by St Andrews athletes Judd Sundelson and Judy Joo in 2024–25.
The R&A Student Tour Series, played on world class venues across Europe, provides top level competitive opportunities for student athletes enrolled in tertiary education outside the USA and Mexico. The 2025–26 series featured four qualifying events in Spain, Portugal, Ireland, and Sweden, culminating in the R&A Student Tour Series Final contested this week over the Jubilee and Old Course in St Andrews.
Maurice Crowned Women’s Order of Merit Champion
Postgraduate scholar Caitlin Maurice (MSc Finance) claimed the Women’s Order of Merit title following an exceptionally consistent season, finishing inside the top three at every qualifying event. Her campaign began with a 2nd place finish at La Sella Golf Club in Spain, continued with a tied 2nd place in round two at Palmares Golf Club in Portugal, a shared victory in round three at Malone Golf Club in Ireland, and concluded with a 3rd place finish at Halmstad Golf Club in Sweden.
Maurice led the Order of Merit standings heading into the Tour Series Finals, where she delivered a composed performance to secure her fifth consecutive top-three finish and with it the overall Women’s Order of Merit title.
Her success caps an outstanding season in which she represented New Zealand at the R&A Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship in February and achieved a career high World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) of 311, placing her among the top amateur golfers in the world.
Despite Maurice’s season-long dominance, it was teammate Ellie Monk, a third year Economics undergraduate, who triumphed at the Tour Series Finals in St Andrews with a superb closing round of 69, finishing level par and three shots clear of Sweden’s Elice Fredriksson. Monk, continues a run of impressive form following earlier victories including the 2025 St Andrews Links Collegiate Individual Title and the 2024 Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open.
St Andrews’ strength in depth was further underlined as scholar Emilie Knai (2nd Year, MA (Hons) Management) continued her impressive upward trajectory, improving on her 5th place finish in the 2024–25 Order of Merit to secure a superb 3rd place this season, buoyed by her excellent 4th place finish at the Tour Series Finals.
Ellie Monk said: “It feels amazing to finally get a win at the Student Tour Series event, and to do it at home in front of my family and team-mates made it even more special. Having won the collegiate individual title back in October gave me great confidence, and I knew if I put myself into contention coming into the final round today, I was capable of getting the job done.”
George Captures Men’s Order of Merit Title
In the Men’s competition, Ollie George (2nd Year, Economics) entered the Tour Series Final in 4th place following a series of strong performances in the qualifying rounds. A composed final event saw him post a level par score to finish tied for 6th, but the overall standings ultimately depended on the outcome of a playoff between the top four competitors.
A victory for UCLAN’s Ben Willis proved decisive, enabling George to top the points table and become the second St Andrews golfer in two years to claim the Men’s Order of Merit title, finishing 13 points clear of the University of Stirling’s George Cannon.
Fresh off his South African Amateur Championship win and appearance at the 115th Investec South African Open Championship, St Andrews teammate Judd Sundelson produced a strong performance in the Finals, finishing –2 after opening rounds of 68 and 70. He placed fifth overall, narrowly missing out on the four way playoff by just a single shot. Fellow Saints Golf Scholar Michael Crowley also impressed, securing a 9th place finish in the Tour Series Finals, highlighting the strength in depth within the St Andrews squad.
Director of Golf, Ian Muir, said: “As Director of Golf, I couldn’t be prouder of what this group achieved yesterday. To be back-to-back Student Tour Series Order of Merit champions is a remarkable testament to where our programme is heading and the quality of student golfers we are attracting to the university. It wasn’t without stress, we were contending for the men’s individual title right down to the last hole, but Ellie Monk was absolutely sensational, firing a 6-under par round on the Old Course in tough conditions, and to finally see her get a Tour Series event over the line was a special moment. Ollie George and Caitlin Maurice winning both Order of Merits for the second year in succession is equally deserving recognition. They have shown outstanding consistency throughout the year and I am incredibly proud of them both. Winning both OOMs last year was the first time in the University’s history, to go back-to-back is truly remarkable, and it’s something we will never take for granted.”
With their victory in the R&A Student Tour Series Order of Merit, Maurice and George will now be considered for selection to the International Team at the 2026 Arnold Palmer Cup. George also earns places in The Amateur Championship and St Andrews Links Trophy and Maurice in The Women’s Amateur Championship and the St Rule Trophy.