This will be our last update but arguably the best insight to why golf in Scotland is so magical. It’s midnight on our second to last night in Scotland and two of our players didn’t make the ballot for the Old Course.. But not to worry they’re going to get on… Last night 6 members of team camped out in front of the starters’ box to get the coveted walk-up spots. With rain gear, pillows and a few provisions, they waited all night until 630am when the starter appeared. Soon thereafter each were given a tee time. The same routine will hold true tonight for Clark and Ford. Is it worth and is it magical? Yes, you don’t wait 6 hours in the cold and dark for something that won’t be very important to your life. Its been a great trip and this IS the final piece of the puzzle.

Ken Cochran, graduate of St. Andrews University, gives us a specially guided tour of St. Andrews. So much history it’s too much to comprehend! This picture is the team at St. Andrews University.

Just 10 years young, Kings Barns is one of Scotland’s gems. Everyone played a match today and it also concluded competition for The Geiger Trophy. After a closely contested match, rising senior Clark Granum beat Brendan Doyle 1 up. A formal presentation will take place at Sand’s Grill on Wednesday night.
Other winner included Justin Lee, Ford Fischer and Alum Conall Arora. The weather played significant role with winds gusting upwards of 40mph.

We arrived this morning at the home of golf: St. Andrews. The picture of above is of the Royal & Ancient and the hallowed grounds in between. We high-tailed it to the starters shack to get our names into the ballot for Monday. All we can do now is wait until 4pm when our fate will be decided by the blind draw.. We finished up late yesterday at Turnberry where Granum and Doyle kept up their leads. Final round of stroke play today at Carnoustie! PS- the food has been great!

928am on Friday just prior to Tee off at Western Gailes. Granum fired 73 to take the lead for the Geiger Trophy. Doyle had 74 while Larouere and Yiu each carded a 75. Team co-captain Sam Mysock rounded out the top 5 with a 76. The team heads to Turnberry this afternoon to complete its third round.

To the victor goes the spoils. Well, not really. Doyle, Mysock, Mueller, Yiu and Fischer didn’t have to lug gear to our respective hotel rooms which after a long-haul flight and 18 holes was a wonderful reward.. Western Gailes and Turnberry tomorrow. If the course reports hold true we’re in for another treat! 934am is the hour when the first ball hall be struck.

The flight was early, driving on the left side of the road is weird but we made it! Day 1, Prestwick Golf Club, site of the first British Open in 1860. A little friendly team match in American collegiate format, 5 play, 4 count. Doyle, Mysock, Mueller, Fischer, Yiu VS. Lee, Larouere, Laukitis, Arora and Granum. Game on! The weather is picture perfect. May the best team win!

Steve Larouere leads the team through its first presentation. At 11:34am tomorrow the Lions will tee of at “The Home of the Open”, Prestwick Golf Club. Steve highlighted holes 1, 3, 5 and 17 as Prestwick’s most memorable. 17, the Cardinal, is the most famous hole that features the “Cardinal” bunker; severe is an understatement.

Once every four years N.C.A.A. teams are permitted to take a foregin tour. From August 25th-September 2nd the Columbia University men’s golf team is traveling to Scotland to play some of the world’s most renowned courses and learn about the rich history surrounding our sport.  So let the journey begin!