Student Ellie Monk Triumphs on Home Course at 2025 St Andrews Links Collegiate

Member of the University of St Andrews Golf Performance Squad Ellie Monk won the individual stroke play title at the 2025 St Andrews Links Collegiate, an event spanning from 13 to 15 October. Across two rounds on the Jubilee Course, Monk recorded scores of 68 and 69 to conclude the event at 7-under-par, emerging ahead of her opponents. 

Monk was thrilled about her achievement.

“It was very special,” said Monk. “Coming into my third year, I’ve competed on the courses a few times, but haven’t won on them before, so [it was] an amazing experience to have my friends and have my parents watching at home on the TV. It gives me a bit of hope about whether I could take it as a professional career, and it’s good recognition as well.”

Earlier this season, Monk competed with her team in the 2025-26 Royal and Ancient Golf Club Student Tour series, travelling to Sweden and Ireland. The latter tournament occurred just the weekend before the St Andrews Links Collegiate, which Monk said attributed to her preparation for the Collegiate, as well as her knowledge of the course.

“We competed in the R&A Student Tour Series in Ireland the week before, which was helpful to get your game in the right position, in the right place, and then build on that,” said Monk. “We also obviously know the course because we play on the Jubilee a lot, so it was nice to have that preparation over the last few years of knowing it well.”

Monk’s golfing journey began from an early age as she grew up living on a golf course. 

“I started when I was about four or five,” said Monk. “Both my parents play, so we used to just go out on the weekend, and I’d have plastic clubs and just play with my parents. I loved it.”

Soon after, Monk started taking lessons at a local golf club with about ten other girls.

According to the 2023 R&A/EGA European Golf Participation Report, women make up 26% of all adult registered golfers in Europe, rendering the sport moderately male-dominated. At a slightly higher proportion of women of 36%, the 2025-26 Golf Performance Squad consists of four women and seven men. 

Nonetheless, Monk is happy to express that she has never felt discouraged by the gender imbalance in golf or by her peers.

“You learn to hold your own against the guys, which is quite fun,” said Monk. “But I wouldn’t say it has even been a negative experience […] The team is such a great bunch. I can’t speak highly enough of them.”

To prepare for tournaments, the Golf Performance Squad adheres to a rigorous training schedule.

“A typical week for us in town is we have training on a Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, which is as a team — normally on the range, or we try and get on course — and then two gym sessions on Tuesday and Thursday,” said Monk. “We have Friday and Sunday off, using those days to do your individual practice, or just stay on top of academics.”

In addition to athletics, Monk is pursuing a degree in Economics. Although training for golf tournaments while simultaneously needing to keep up with her coursework is “a lot to juggle,” Monk said she “wouldn’t give up either one,” particularly as she is still considering both passions professionally.

“Potentially the finance route or working in the Foreign Office overseas, but then also, obviously, how good I can get with golfing,” said Monk.

Alongside the R&A Student Tour Series, Monk looks forward to the summer season, in which she will compete in “world-renowned tournaments to get some good exposure and play against good players.”

“I’m targeting the British Amateur and the European Amateur to see how I fare against the best in Europe and the best in America,” said Monk.

Ultimately, Monk wants to give thanks to the people who have helped her get to where she is today: “I wouldn’t be where I am without my team and without the University’s support.”

Image Courtesy of The University of St Andrews