Stirling University golfer Lorna McClymont is ready to swap the books for birdies as she embarks on a mission to secure a place on next year’s professional tour.
The 24-year-old sports scholar – who graduates this week – is set to fly out to Marrakech in Morocco to compete for a spot on the 2025 Ladies European Tour, where she would bump shoulders with some of the biggest talents in women’s golf.
Lorna is one of more than 250 entrants to the Lalla Aicha Qualifying School (Q-School), which will see the top 20 golfers rewarded with a professional tour card.
It is the latest step in a glittering early career for Lorna, who has already rocketed to status as one of the best amateur golfers in the UK and Ireland.
She has already secured titles all over the UK and earlier this year was part of the winning Great Britain and Ireland squad in the Curtis Cup against the United States.
She also turned heads with a brilliant performance at the 121st Women’s Amateur Championship – where she marginally lost to American Melanie Green in the final of the historic competition, regarded as the pinnacle of the women’s amateur game.
Ahead of the Q-School challenge, Lorna said: “I feel ready now – now that I’ve finished my degree, and I have those experiences of the past four years under my belt.
“At Stirling, I’ve learned to be in competition environments, to lead tournaments and, most importantly, I’ve learned to win.
“I am going to Q-School and preparing as best I can, trusting the practice I’ve put in. If I could qualify, it would just top everything.
“It is something that everyone wants and would make life easier because it lets you just focus on golf for the next year.”
Lorna admits that the allure of the American system, along with external pressures to follow other talented British golfers to the United States, was intense.
She spent two years on a golf scholarship at Scotland’s Rural College after leaving Dumbarton Academy, before deciding whether her future lay Stateside – as is often the case for talented golfers seeking to advance their careers.
But her decision to remain in Scotland, rather than train abroad, came into focus during this year’s Curtis Cup, when it was highlighted she was the only golfer, including from the GB&I team, to be based outside of the USA.
“When I was travelling there, I felt quite nervous and a bit out of place, because I wasn’t based in America like the others. But as the week went on, and then when I won a point on the last day, it all became real, and it was clear I did belong there”, Lorna added.
“It makes me proud to say that you can still do it – win big competitions – without moving to America. To show that you can get to the highest level in amateur golf from a base here in Scotland has hopefully opened doors for young girls coming through.”
Dean Robertson, head of golf at Stirling University, said: “I send Lorna my warmest congratulations on her graduation – to say that everyone at the university is incredibly proud of her achievements, in both golf and academia, is an understatement.
“Over the past four years, Lorna has given everything in training and competition. Whether she is training at our campus facility, playing in a student competition, or battling it out in the final rounds of the Curtis Cup, she shows up every day with a brilliant attitude – a passion and willingness to learn and improve in all aspects of her sport.
“It is no surprise that level of consistency and determination produces results.
“We have watched Lorna compete and triumph at the highest levels of the amateur game and there is no doubt that she is now ready to take the next step and secure her professional tour card.
“I know that everyone at Stirling is rooting for Lorna as she heads to Morocco, and we all wish her well.”