Kyleen McCance is ready to take her golfing skills to the college level
HANOVER, Pa. — Kyleen McCance started playing golf when she was 11 because her older brother played and she wanted to be better than him. The lengths the Hanover Area senior went to gave her a solid foundation made sure they would be competitive.
鈥淚 wanted to be better than him because we are a competitive family,鈥� McCance said. 鈥淎nything he did, I wanted to do. I fell in love with it once I started playing and wanted to get better.鈥�
McCance started working with a swing coach two hours away from where she lived and played in junior tournaments.
Her improvement provided more opportunities than to just beat her siblings. Combined with her CrossFit regiment and playing point guard in basketball, McCance utilized her additional strength to become a college-level golfer. She recently signed with Savannah State, which is a Division II program in Georgia.
McCance works with swing coach Eric MacCluen, who owns the Eric MacCluen Golf Academy at the Applecross Country Club in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, which is roughly a 100-mile drive from McCance鈥檚 house.
MacCluen said McCance routinely hits her drives 250 to 260 yards.
鈥淔or her size, pound-for-pound, it鈥檚 amazing how hard she hits the ball,鈥� MacCluen said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 so incredibly strong because of all the CrossFit she has done. She just needs to keep working on her shot from 100 yards and in. I think there is a lot of potential there.鈥�
As a senior, McCance finished second in the District II golf championships at Fox Hill Country Club, shooting a 76. McCance declined a bid to the state golf tournament. She has been working on shoring up all of her skills before she heads to college.
鈥淭he thing I think I have to focus on the most is hitting greens and getting closer to the pins,鈥� McCance said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a struggle for a few years within 100 yards, but there is always stuff to improve on.鈥�
Savannah State鈥檚 golf program is in the middle of an adjustment itself. The Tigers were an independent program at the Division I level from 2000 to 2019. Savannah State joined the Division II level in 2019 and the 2022 season will be its first in the Peach Belt Conference.
The Tigers have won seven tournaments since their first season in 2000 and have made eight appearances at the PGA National Minority Championship, also known as the PGA Works Collegiate Championship.
MacCluen said the biggest challenge for McCance may not be golf.
鈥淎s far as in school goes, it鈥檚 about being able to manage your time,鈥� MacCluen said. 鈥淕olf is a sport where you miss more school for tournaments than any other sport. It鈥檚 hard to get your stuff done. It鈥檚 a real challenge to keep good grades and to practice and to get to the course. When you are dealing with meals, it is hard to fit it all in.鈥�
McCance said she has never spent much time far from home but is excited for the challenge.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a lot to take in,鈥� McCance said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a lot I have to adjust to. Having my teammates and coaches with me will help me get over it pretty fast.鈥�
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