St Andrews Student Shines in Pro Golf Tournament

Judd Sundelson played in this year's South African Open Championship as part of the DP World Tour

The Saint spoke to St Andrews student Judd Sundelson, who competed on the DP World Tour in March. After winning the South African Amateur Championship, Sundelson qualified for the SA Open Championship, competing against some of the world’s best professionals.

“It was my first professional event on the DP World Tour,” Sundelson told The Saint. “It’s slightly intimidating when you go from being one of the favourites in the amateur competition to someone no one has any expectations for.”

“The level is obviously really high on the tour,” he said. “The course setup was tough — much longer than the course we played at the SA Amateur — so there was a big emphasis on driving distance.”

“Driving is one of the stronger aspects of my game,” Sundelson explained. “My driver actually broke the night before the tournament, which added a bit of stress.”

Sundelson ended up posting +7 over the first two days, missing the cut at +2. “Because of the level, you always have to be at your best,” he said. “On the DP World Tour, you can’t slip up. To stay in it, you have to play sublime golf the whole week.”

Sundelson completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Nottingham before coming to St Andrews, where he is studying an MSc in Finance and Banking. In 2025, he won the R&A Student Tour Series Order of Merit, the premier competition on the university circuit.

He hopes to build on this first tour appearance and go pro a few months after finishing his studies.

“I think I just need to be more consistent,” Sundelson said. “I need to carry on with more self-belief — belief in a long-term goal. I’m not fixated on instant results.”

Even from a brief conversation with Sundelson, you get a real sense of his determination to succeed at a high level.

“Golf runs in my family,” he said. “My grandfather was a great golfer. My dad was a great golfer, so I’ve always had that natural ability. Then it’s just drive and hard work. I think I work harder than any golfer at the university. I want it a lot.”

Balancing the demands of performance sport and university work is no easy task: Sundelson described his packed schedule, which consists of playing golf and training in the gym most days alongside his classes.

As well as training, the Master’s student has had to take a lot of time off to play in tournaments both in the UK and overseas.

“The university has also been really kind and helpful. They’ve accommodated me with missing tutorials, and they’ve helped me get extensions when needed,” he added. “The university has definitely played its part in supporting me.”

Sundelson is part of the performance golf programme at St Andrews, which seeks to nurture elite athletes at the university. “We get good coaching here,” he said. “I think the programme’s just going to improve over the next couple of years, and you’re going to see a lot of good golfers coming out of here.”

The Links Trophy — St Andrews’ biggest amateur tournament — is the next target in sight for Sundelson. “Obviously, I’ll go in there with a level head and try to do my best, and see where I end up at the end of the week.” 

Before competing in the Links Trophy in June, he will represent the South African team at the Africa Region Five Golf Tournament in Eswatini next month. The team will then tour all the major amateur tournaments, including the British Amateur, hosted in Liverpool in the summer.

With the Open round the corner, it will be exciting to see how St Andrews’ number one fares this summer and into his professional career. Great things are sure to come.

Provided provided by Judd Sundelson