Oxfordshire teenager Megan Bishop will be heading to university in the United States on a golf scholarship at Bethel University in Mishawaka, Indiana.
Megan, who is currently studying for her A Levels at Burford School in Oxford, is one of the most talented young golfers in the country and has the trophies to prove it. As well as winning the Under-18s County Championship, she was also crowned the Oxfordshire Ladies County Golf Association champion this year.
Having grown up with both her mum and dad as keen golfers, it was inevitable that sooner or later Megan would also take to the course. At the age of 10, the now-18-year-old began joining her parents for a round of golf and was soon competing in junior tournaments.
“I’ve been in that environment since I was quite young,” Megan told Fen Regis Trophies. “From playing with my parents, I got into junior county stuff through my club.”
The Impact of a Good Coach
Megan has always been a sports-mad girl, playing a myriad of sports alongside golf such as hockey, netball, and swimming. She also used to do ballet, for good measure, but golf is where her true passion lies and it is where Megan sees her future.
As well as her parents, Megan credits her coach at The Wychwood Golf Club, Tom Field, as being a significant character in her golfing journey.
“From working with Tom,” she said. “I’m always wanting to know why he tells me to do stuff. I like looking at numbers and different angles.”
Megan added: “Tom has coached me for four years now, and he’s always keen to do everything he can to help me.
“Over the last year, we have been going back to the basics and working on fundamentals, like my swing and training hard in the winter. That’s paid off as I’ve had a good season this season.
“I don’t have long lessons every week, I like the little and often approach, and whenever I am up and have had a bad round, he has always got time to give me 10-15 minutes just to look over something.”
Party in the USA
From competing for Oxfordshire and winning golf trophies for fun, Megan will be making the move to the United States next summer after completing her A Levels. Having worked with PeakUSA to secure a scholarship she will become part of the Bethel Pilots Women’s Golf Team.
Her impressive performances in domestic and international competitions, as well as on the Rob Rock Junior Tour, helped secure her scholarship. Megan, however, takes a level-headed approach to how her future may unfold, admitting that she may well not make it as a professional on tour, but does see herself working in golf in some capacity.
“I guess everyone would say to be a professional golfer would be the ultimate dream,” Megan said. “But I think from where I am, I’ve had a few setbacks along the way, and I think that I’m quite realistic in that I’d need to be further ahead than where I am right now.
“In going to America, I’m looking forward to making the most of the facilities they are going to have out there and the designated time to train.
“Academics is really important to me, as well, so studying out there and getting that degree is the backup plan.
“If everything goes well when I’m out there, I’ll most likely pursue teaching.”
The young golfer added: “My mum is a PE teacher, so that has always been there and just from working with Tom…being a coach is something that I would like to pursue.”
Whatever the future has in store for Megan, golf is almost certain to feature in it in some shape or form. The encouragement received from her parents and coach has played no small role in developing her love and passion for the sport and long may that continue.
By Aaron Gratton
