Abertay University student Stuart Wilson sets sail for Japan today (Friday 3 May), as part of the European golf team that will take on Asia in a major tournament

Stuart, whose golfing career has already seen him compete in top competitions across Europe and America, including last year's Open at Royal Lytham, has been selected as part of the 12-man amateur European squad facing a team from the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation for the Michael Bonallack trophy.

The competition, now in its third year, will be held at Hirono, on the Japanese island of Honshu, from 8-10 May. The golfers will play five morning fourballs and five afternoon foursome matches over the first two days of the competition, followed by a singles match on the final day.

The European team also includes Walker Cup players Graeme McDowell, Marc Warren and Nigel Edwards. Runner-up in the 2000 Annual Championship, Christian Reimbold, has also been selected.

Stuart, who was recently awarded the Abertay Sports Bursary 2002, is only the third Scot ever chosen to take part in the competition, which was first played in Australia in 1998. Stuart said: "My selection for the team was a huge surprise, as I didn't even know I'd been nominated, but I feel very honoured to be competing as part of the European team.

"I've been training hard all winter at the National Golf Academy, and I have spent a month playing in Malaysia and Australia, so I am well prepared," added Stuart. "The Asia-Pacific team is made up of very good players, as is the Scottish team, so it should be a very close match."

Sports Development Officer for Abertay University, Mark Munro, said: "Stuart has been a member of Abertay University's Elite Athletes programme for the past two years, and we have followed his career with intense interest. I am delighted that all his hard work and success has been recognised with this selection, and I wish the whole team the best of luck in this tough competition."

Some of Stuart's achievements in the last year include:

• 2nd place in European Amateur Championships in Denmark
• Qualified for 'Open Championship' at Royal Lytham
• Member of GB's Palmer Cup team against USA
• Selected for Walker Cup Squad for 2003
• British Universities Champion
• British Universities Captain.
• Scottish Internationalist.

The European team for the Michael Bonallack trophy is: Martin Wiegele (Austria), Anders Schmidt Hansen (Denmark), Colin Edwards (England), Christian Reimbold (Germany), Graeme McDowell (Ireland), Edoardo Molinari (Italy), Marc Warren (Scotland), Stuart Wilson (Scotland), Alfredo Garcia Heredia (Spain), Niklas Lemke (Sweden), Raphael de Sousa (Switzerland), Nigel Edwards (Wales). Team captain is former Scottish Golf Union president Colin Wood.

The University of Abertay Dundee runs a number of initiatives for the support of student athletes. These include the Elite Athletes Development programme, which is a yearly sponsorship programme; and individual grants to help meet the one-off costs of competition.

Stuart is currently studying for a 3rd year BSc in Sports Coaching and Development at Abertay University. Other degree courses available include Health & Sport Studies BSc, and Sport, Health & Exercise BSc.