A TALENTED teenage golfer is set to tee off in the States after winning a prestigious fully-fundedGlasgow Times: scholarship.

Megan Docherty, 17, has been awarded a scholarship to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga after impressing with her golfing skills and will begin her studies in America this August.

Megan, who has just completed her final year at Turnbull High School, said: “I’m really proud of being awarded the scholarship. It means that I’ve been able to relax a bit because it took a lot of work to get good grades for it, but I am nervous to move halfway across the world.

“All of my friends will be staying here – they are going to Glasgow Uni and Strathclyde, so it’ll be sad not to see them but on the other hand it’s exciting that I get to travel.

“I’ve been to America before but only to Florida, so that’s one of the things I’m looking forward to most.”

Megan had her start in golf after joining her dad on the course, and currently plays at Bishopbriggs Golf Club. She is also a member of Scotland’s national squad and the Scottish School Girl squad, and has travelled to countries such as England, Spain and Italy to play in tournaments.

She said: “I started playing at age seven, but I properly started competing at the age of 15.

“I took part in the Barrie Douglas competition and the Scottish Women’s tournament.

Glasgow Times:

“When I travel to America, I’ll be in competitions as part of my degree and I’m really looking forward to competing more and in a new place.”

Megan will be hoping to emulate her golfing icons, her favourite of which include Irish golfer, Rory McIlroy.

She added: “I’ve never had any experience of feeling like I’ve not had as much of an opportunity because I’m female, but it is a male-dominated sport.

“I think it’s important that girls feel equal in sports, and I definitely want to see that.”

Golf is what Megan would use to rely on during lockdown to help stay active.

She said: “For most of lockdown, we were still able to get out and onto the course which was really good.

“It really helped to clear my head and relax, and I got to spend time with my dad too.

“We were really lucky to be able to play it because so many sports weren’t able to be played during lockdown.”

Her family is one thing that Megan says she will miss when she heads west to Tennessee.

She said: “I’ll miss my family, but I’ll come home whenever I can.

“My term times will be between August and December, and January and May, so I’ll be able to come home for Christmas.

“I’m a bit upset but I’m really excited for it and being able to develop my skills in an amazing place.”