The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), and co-founders and sponsors Toro and Reesink UK, have revealed the finalists for the 2025 Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards.
Now in their 36th year, the awards have helped unearth some of the brightest talents within the turf management industry and laid the foundations for decades of professional success.
The finalists will gather at Rudding Park in Harrogate on September 9-11 to compete in a series of challenges designed to test their technical knowledge and passion for the greenkeeping profession. Winners will then be crowned in the categories of Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year and Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year.
BIGGA learning and development manager Deb Burnett said: “Whether joining the industry fresh from full-time education or opting to switch after a career elsewhere, our finalists are all excellent and they demonstrate the extraordinary talent that is present in today’s golf greenkeeping industry. The degree of knowledge they possess is testament to the quality of training they receive, both at work and with their training providers, and we’re looking forward to welcoming them all to the finals in Harrogate in September for what stands to be an exciting couple of days.”
David Timms, national accounts manager for Reesink Turfcare and one of the judges, added: “The conclusion of the regional interview process which determines our finalists demonstrated how important these awards are – the overall knowledge and professionalism of these young student greenkeepers is very high and deserves to be recognised and celebrated. It was clear to see which candidates had conducted research into the competition and the sponsors of the awards, with the finalists all standing out in their respective categories. The whole process was great fun to be part of and we thank the guest judges for their support again.”
The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finalists are Jamie Beattie (assistant greenkeeper at Royal Liverpool and a student at Myerscough College), Ruth Etches (assistant greenkeeper at Trentham Golf Club and a student at Myerscough College), Oliver Pate (deputy head greenkeeper at Worksop Golf Club and a student at Askham Bryan College), Chris Szoradi (first assistant greenkeeper at Manchester Golf Club and a student at Askham Bryan College), and Brad Taylor (assistant greenkeeper at Beau Desert Golf Club and a student at Myerscough College).
The Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year finalists are Oliver Badger (apprentice greenkeeper at Parkstone Golf Club and a student at Myerscough College), Andrew Semple (apprentice greenkeeper at Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club and a student at SRUC Elmwood), and Matthew Strutt Donnelly (apprentice greenkeeper at Stoneham Golf Club and a student at Berkshire College of Agriculture (Windsor Forest Campus)).
To be eligible for the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year category, candidates must have been a greenkeeper for a minimum of 12 months and be studying towards the Level 2 Golf Greenkeeper or Level 3 Advanced Golf Greenkeeper qualifications. To be eligible for the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year category, candidates must be aged 21 or under and studying towards the Level 2 award at the time of application.
More information about the finalists can be found on the BIGGA website, where you can also find information about the prizes on offer for the winners and their endorsers and the runners-up in each category, including a 10-week placement on one of the industry’s most influential training courses.
