Student Spotlight: Ellie Docherty Crowned Scottish Student Golf Champion at Moray
Two of our students recently took on the Scottish Student Golf Championship at Moray Golf Club — a genuine test of skill, patience, and adaptability on one of Scotland's great links courses. Here's how they got on.
Klaus — A Promising Start to Life on the Links
Klaus, who has recently begun his studies at the University of Stirling, finished an impressive 7th place in the stroke play event. Having previously competed as part of Austria's national boys squad, Klaus arrives in Scotland with serious pedigree — but this championship marked his first real encounter with Scottish links golf, and all the unique challenges that come with it.
Battling through some genuinely tough conditions across the week, his performance was an excellent start to the season and a valuable education in what links golf demands. There's a lot more to come from Klaus as he settles into life in Scotland, and we're looking forward to continuing that work with him.
Ellie Docherty — From the Lesson Tee to Champion
If Klaus's week was a promising beginning, Ellie Docherty's was something special.
Also studying at the University of Stirling, Ellie is a plus-handicap golfer with clear ambitions to turn professional — and she arrived at Moray in sharp form. In our most recent session together, we'd been working on an overdrawing issue that had crept into her game. A small adjustment to her exit swing and a simple, focused drill was all it took to get her ball flight back under control. That kind of quick uptake is a hallmark of a player who really understands her own game.
Returning to Moray — her home course — Ellie made full use of her local knowledge to deliver a superb stroke play performance, finishing tied 2nd and qualifying comfortably for the match play stages, where only the top four players advance.
From there, she was exceptional. A dominant 6&4 victory in the semi-final was followed by a closely contested final against fellow Stirling teammate Abercrombie Nisbet. In a match that went all the way to the 19th hole, Ellie's composure, experience, and course knowledge proved decisive. She's your Scottish Student Golf Champion.
What's Next
It's been a fantastic start to the season for both players, and we couldn't be prouder of what they've achieved. Next up is the Helen Holm Scottish Women's Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club, where Ellie will be looking to carry this momentum forward. We'll be watching closely and cheering her on.
If their stories have inspired you and you're ready to take your own game to the next level, we'd love to hear from you. Book a New Client Assessment with the team at Swanston Golf Academy and let's find out what's possible together.