Proud dad Craig Ferguson admits he was surprised when daughter Neve Marshall walked straight into the Scottish Golf Performance Programme, but says she has worked hard for her chance.
Marshall, 15, from Hairmyres, went to a two-day meet-up at Gleneagles and St Andrews recently, and made her way into the Futures squad, having been assessed by Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew.
Craig, a former coach at Strathaven Rugby Club, says the Duncanrig Secondary pupil has really swung into action since deciding she wanted to go professional.
He said: “Neve has worked really hard over the last year to get into this squad, and I didn’t expect her to get in, because she’s still 15, and a young 15.
“I took her up for the experience but she did well, they looked over the previous year and what she’s achieved, and she won a few events, so she has done well.
“Neve has been playing golf since she was four, but she didn’t really start getting serious until she was 11 or 12.
“She was up at Cathkin Braes until about a month ago, and then moved to East Kilbride.
“She was in the junior team and everything else, and has been going out with adults and playing with them.
“I asked her last year what she wanted to do and she said she wanted to do her golf, she wants to go pro, and then become a PE teacher.
“I told her she needs to knuckle down, because at the time she was a 15-handicap and she needed to get it down to single figures – she’s down to seven just now, and next year her aim is to get it down to two.”
A major highlight of the meeting at Gleneagles was when the kids were given advice from 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie, and also from Matthew.
Craig added: “The whole point of this Scotland Futures thing is that they’re moulding them now for internationals and they’re doing coaching sessions once a month at St Andrews and Gleneagles, to see who works well with who.
“It was really good, they did an age-group meeting up at Gleneagles on the Saturday and then on the Sunday they were up at St Andrews.
“Paul Lawrie is heavily involved with Catriona Matthews, who is the Solheim Cup captain, and she took Neve’s trial.
“They told them what worked for them, what they can get out of golf, and that it’s a way of life, how it can help you with other things if you don’t want to go pro.
“It was basically getting an insight into what it’s like to be playing as a professional at the top level.
“Neve is very aware this is a good opportunity for her, she’s a good girl.”
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