READING Blue Coat School’s golf team competed in the Independent Schools Golf Association National Finals at St Andrews for the first time in its history recently.

The team, consisting of captain Peter Handcock, 18, Matthew Roberts, 17, and Will Tate, 13, reached the finals at the home of golf by defeating Charterhouse in the ISGA regional final in March.

They were up against a very strong field and the first round of the final was played on The Torrance course in St Andrews Bay.

According to coach Steve Roberts, who teaches Mathematics at Blue Coat: “The weather and views that day were unbelievable.”

The Blue Coat boys acquitted themselves well with Handcock shooting six-over-par, Roberts eight over and Tate 10 over.

The team then attended a presentation event at the Fairmont Hotel where they received their trophy for winning their regional final.

The final round of the competition was played at The Eden course, which runs alongside the Old Course.

The conditions were brutal with 40 mph winds and freezing temperatures making scoring difficult.

Roberts explained: “Peter played with great determination to gain a gold medal, coming 14th out of the 60 competitors which was a fantastic achievement. Will and Matthew stuck to their task manfully and both gained bronze medals.”

The Blue Coat team finished 14th out of the 20 teams, with Wellington College in Crowthorne the overall winners.

Handcock, who has also represented England Schools, beamed: “It was a great team effort and an unforgettable experience.”