Sundelson conquers St Andrews in competitive golf series

South African golfer Judd Sundelson played some of the best golf of his life to win the prestigious European Order of Merit at St Andrews, Scotland, for the first time, in April this year.

The 23-year-old University of St Andrews Masters student describes the achievement as “the biggest thing I’ve won. I felt relieved and special.

“The victory felt like a culmination of so much hard work throughout my golfing life,” he said. The merit was part of the 2024 to 2025 R&A Student Tour Series, Europe’s premier university golf circuit.

Sundelson moved to England after matriculating from King David Victory Park in 2020. He had a scholarship to the University of Nottingham to do his undergraduate degree, and then moved to St Andrews, where he is doing a Masters in banking and finance.

Sundelson, who had led the Order of Merit in 2023 before injuring his wrist, is the first University of St Andrews student to win the men’s Order of Merit. Fellow University of St Andrews student Judy Joo also made history by being the university’s first winner of the women’s Order of Merit.

The Student Tour Series is contested by golfers aged 19 to 27 from all over Europe, Sundelson said. “I was leading most of the way,” he said. “I started off in third place in Sweden, fourth place in Ireland, fifth place in Spain, and tied first in Portugal.

“These were all world-class golf courses where they hosted great tournaments. The final accumulated at the Home of Golf, St Andrews, which is an iconic venue, so it meant a lot to win there. St Andrews is also where I’m studying, so it meant a lot to me, and it was great to be around friends, all my teammates, and my coach. Everyone in the town supported me.

“The nerves got to me a little bit in the final at St Andrews, where the scoring was very good and I finished in 18th place,” he said.

“I don’t play my best in the finals, but I made two big birdies on the stretch in the 14th and 15th holes that were playing really tough. That was absolutely crucial. It was amazing to win with one of the best six rounds of my life. Into the 15th hole, it took about five feet [1.5m] to make birdie. The 14th was into the wind, and off the back, I hit an amazing drive, an amazing three-wood, about 25 feet, and made a birdie.”

Sundelson led the series from the second event, and had a commanding lead going into the finals. “I was ahead by quite a lot, and I was always the one to catch,” he says, “so I didn’t have it easy from my playing partners. I just stuck to myself, blocked all the noise, and played within myself.”

Sundelson’s family is proud of his Order of Merit win, says his dad, Barry, who played professional golf. “Winning the Order of Merit is a brilliant and unique achievement for Judd,” he says. “The standard is high, and the environment demanding. It’s great to see him enjoying his golf and [for him] to keep getting better and better each year.”

Sundelson enjoyed travelling around Europe during the series, however, he said the tour “came with a lot of challenges too. Tough competition, hostile environments, so I had to keep my head down and just back myself.”

Sundelson’s prior golfing highlights included playing for Gauteng; winning junior tournaments; winning [two golds] in the Maccabi Games; being selected for the golf South Africa squad; and being in the South African team to compete in a major event in Great Britain this summer.

Sundelson comes from a family with a rich golfing history. Barry, and his uncle, Dean, have won medals for golf at the Maccabi Games. His grandfather, Neville, was also an amateur golfer.

Sundelson practises at St Andrews, known as the Home of Golf, every day in Scotland, and frequents the Houghton Golf Club when he is in South Africa.

“I’m playing all the major events in the United Kingdom this year: the Brabazon, in which my grandfather was the first international winner; St Andrews Links; the Scottish Open; and I’m doing the British Amateur [Championship] with the South African team,” he said.