College News

From Shildon to Alabama

Becca Horner from Shildon has won a golfing scholarship at the University of Troy in Alabama. Seventeen year old Becca combines her rigorous golfing regime with her academic studies at Darlington’s Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College where she will take her final A Level exams, next summer, in Philosophy & Ethics, IT and Law.

She has to pass her exams to take up her university place but Troy University’s offer was very much based upon her golfing attainment – Rebecca has a handicap of 1!

Rebecca, who started playing golf at the age of 9, has won numerous competitions and practises her golf at Woodham and Wynyard. She says:

‘I can’t quite believe it’s happening and  that this time next year I’ll be out in America studying Criminal Justice and being trained by top coaches, playing golf for at least 20 hours a week. I’ll be in America for at least four years and, if things go well, will probably stay in the states and join the professional circuit. I’m excited but nervous as it’s such a big move and an amazing opportunity.’

Paul Wearmouth, Becca’s tutor at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, adds:

‘Becca is single minded and has pursued her ambition tenaciously.  She has researched her options carefully, visited various American universities and in the end had offers from three of them. She chose Troy University because of its facilities, golfing opportunities and coaches and she was impressed by its high academic standards. Becca deserves her success and I will follow her career with interest.