If Craig Howie, the first Borderer to win the Scottish Boys' Championship, gets his wish, he will also be the first winner of the national under-18s title since James White in 2006 to enrol at the University of Stirling, writes Colin Farquharson.
Speaking after his win over Euan Scott of St Andrews in the Paul Lawrie Foundation-sponsored championship at Murcar Links, Howie said he was not even considering going to a United States college as recent champions such as Paul Ferrier and Grant Forrest did.
"Stirling's golfing set-up, with Dean Robertson the coach, really attracts me. I couldn't find anywhere better by going to America," said Howie.
Raleigh Gowie, Stirling's sports performance manager, clarified Howie's position as a potential student. "Craig has been offered a conditional entry to the University of Stirling, starting in September 2012," he said. "He requires to obtain certain grades to in his forthcoming Higher exams.
"He has also been offered a golf scholarship at Stirling dependent on his entry to a degree programme. There have been a number of Scotland junior internationalists to come to Stirling over the years."
Stirling are cornering the market in golfing talent as the results at last week's British Student Golf Tour Finals at West Lancs underlined – Jack McDonald and Hannah McCook of Stirling won the men's and women's title respectively and the top-five finishers in the men's event were all Stirling students. It has also been announced that former European Tour pro Andrew Coltart would mentor a leading golfer from the university.
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