Three-time state golf champion, Propeck, continues her dominance while looking ahead to collegiate and professional goals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BVM) — Megan Propeck is well known in the Kansas City area for her exceptional play on the golf course. After winning her third individual MSHSAA state golf championship this fall, Propeck cemented her prep legacy while exciting many about her collegiate, and perhaps even professional, future.
Propeck was introduced to the game at 5 years old, when her father first took her out to play at nearby Blue Hills Country Club. It didn’t take long for her to catch on with the sport, and she started competing in junior golf just a couple short years later.
By age 10, Propeck began playing with U.S. Kids Golf, continuing to grow a deep passion for the sport. Through the years, the now 18-year-old has become a consistent ball-striker, and an exceptional putter. Propeck also believes the development of her mental game on the course has helped her get to where she is today.
But that kind of development to turn into a three-time state champion — and the No. 45-ranked player in the Rolex AJGA Junior Golf rankings — does not come overnight. Propeck has put in a lot of work to get to where she’s at today, spending hours upon hours on the golf course.
“In the summer, I’m on the golf course probably at least six hours a day,” Propeck said. “I just grind on skills, drill on things and will go play in the afternoons. It consumes my life and even in the winter months I’m still out practicing when it’s 40 degrees or above. It’s a lot of work, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Propeck was a star early on in her youth, winning several local U.S. Kids Golf tournaments, and qualifying for the Optimist International Junior Golf Tournament at PGA National in Florida. Inspired by the level of competition she was beginning to play against, Propeck continued on with her career by playing in American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) events, leading to college attention before she even got into high school.
If she hadn’t already displayed her Division I college talent prior to high school, her four years at Notre Dame de Sion absolutely cemented it. Although she wasn’t sure what to expect at the start, Propeck made an immediate splash for the Storm.
“I really didn’t know what to expect coming in because I had never been on a real golf team before,” Propeck explained. “But my team has been the best part of my high school experience by far, and they were so encouraging and so welcome, showing me what team golf should be.”
Adjusting to the mental grind and different yardage distances, Propeck grew as a golfer, which led her all the way to the state tournament at Sedalia Country Club. A few weeks prior to the tournament, Propeck played the same course and shot a round in the mid-60s. She would continue that success during state, winning an individual state title as just a freshman.
“I had a lot of confidence going in but never played a state championship,” Propeck said. “Although I had played many big tournaments around the country, state championships have a little bit of a different pressure to them. I’m not going to lie, the second round was one of my most nerve-wracking rounds. But I ended up playing good and keeping it together, and I was so happy to get my first state championship win.”
Despite a slow start to her sophomore season, Propeck maintained the success she had the year prior. With the state tournament being held in her hometown of Kansas City, the 18-year-old was eager to bring home back-to-back titles, and she did just that.
“The second day was a battle and mentally exhausting,” Propeck said of the state tournament. “That was one of the most adrenaline-running rounds I had ever played. I came off the green and gave my mom a big hug and was obviously thankful I had won, but was happy to be done with that round.”
In 2019, Propeck got off to a slow start again, in large part due to coming off a full summer schedule, and beginning her official college recruiting process. Feeling less prepared for state, Propeck still had high expectations. However, the coveted three-peat would allude her, as she finished runner-up to Lafayette standout and Michigan State commit, Brooke Biermann.
Biermann and Propeck have actually been competing against each other for several years as two of the best young golf talents in Missouri. And if she had to lose to someone, Propeck was glad it was the Lafayette golfer.
“Me and Brooke have been playing together for a long time and we’ve pushed each other to become better players,” Propeck said. “She’s definitely a good player and we have that competitive respect and relationship with each other, which just made the state championships that much more fun. She played a great round that day at state and I was so happy for her to have gotten it done.”
Shortly after that season, Propeck made her own college decision, officially announcing she would be committing to the University of Virginia.
I am so excited to announce that I have verbally committed to play golf for the University of Virginia! Thank you to my family, friends, and coaches for supporting me and making my dream a reality. See you soon Charlottesville #GoHoos 🔷🔶🔷 pic.twitter.com/uccNyB32Na
— Megan Propeck (@megan_propeck) December 5, 2019
The golf star first began gaining college interest during eighth grade, and took multiple college visits midway through her freshman year. Propeck was heavily recruited throughout her early high school career, and had over 50 Division I college offers by her junior year.
“It was crazy and a lot to handle,” the Sion golfer said. “It took a lot to whittle down my list. Virginia was my last visit and I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to visit there. But coach Ria Scott actually came out to Kansas City to do a home visit and seeing how much she valued me as a player was really telling. I decided to take my last official visit there and I loved the school, the campus and everything just fell into place. I’m so excited and I know it’s the best spot for me.”
With her recruitment taken care of, Propeck was focused on grabbing another state championship this fall in her senior season. However, she was fearful throughout the season that the COVID-19 pandemic might stand in the way.
“I was not hopeful that we were going to finish our season to be honest with you,” Propeck mentioned. “I didn’t think we were going to make it past a month of high school golf and we had several events canceled which was disappointing.”
Thankfully, the Storm, and many other high school golf teams in Missouri were able to make it work, and play a safe season. Propeck again took advantage, winning six of seven tournaments she played in. Despite the uncertainty, the golfer stayed motivated and positive as she made it to state once again.
With the tournament held at Dalhousie Golf Club — one of Propeck’s favorite courses in Missouri — the golfer was ready to climb back to the top again. Added adversity would hit however, as weather canceled the first round of the tournament. With just 18 holes to decide a champion — and the bad weather persisting — pressure mounted, but it didn’t phase Propeck.
The Notre Dame de Sion star would fire an impressive six-under round, finishing her high school career with four birdies in her final four holes, and a third state championship
“It was stressful with it being shortened to one round because anyone can get hot,” Propeck said. “But I was confident in my game and ready to go. It was my last round playing high school golf and I was just really focused my entire round. By the time I got to the last four holes, I knew I had a lot of birdie opportunities. Birdieing the last four holes was a great way to finish.”
Perhaps lost in the great feat of winning three individual titles in four years is Sion’s overall team success. Continually playing for her team to win a state title, especially this fall, Propeck helped the Storm to four consecutive runner-up finishes. Although disappointing they couldn’t break through to win, the team success added to a proud and legendary high school career.
“I’m incredibly proud of everything that I did in high school golf,” Propeck said. ‘“I think I set five Missouri state records throughout my career and the Sion low round. The people that I’ve met and the team bonds that I’ve built have been incredible and it’s definitely something that I’ll look back at fondly.”
As much of a star as she has been on the golf course, Propeck has also starred in the classroom and beyond. Propeck sports a weighted GPA of 4.5, and is part of her school’s National Honor Society. She has also given back through Sion’s ‘Students Against Destructive Decisions’ program, and by volunteering with the AJGA Leadership Links Program — which she has helped raise over $5,000 for through various fundraisers.
Her great work has earned her the Kenneth Smith Award the last two years, presented to the Kansas City area’s top golfers based on performance, leadership, academics, and community service.
A true star on and off the course, Propeck is ready to begin her career at Virginia. The 18-year-old believes she is prepared to become an immediate contributor for the Cavaliers, in large part due to some of the experience from her junior career.
Propeck won two Kansas Junior Amateur championships in the past, and placed highly in several AJGA tournaments — including a win in the Hale Irwin Junior Tournament in Colorado. Propeck has also gained national exposure by competing in two PGA Junior Championships.
While at Virginia, Propeck hopes to help the program emerge with a lot of young talent and a top recruiting class. She believes that the Cavaliers will eventually contend for a national championship, and wants to grow her game personally as well.
The Notre Dame de Sion senior takes everything one step at a time. But there is no secret that she very likely has what it takes to pursue a professional golf career someday. It has long been a dream for Propeck, and after her time at Virginia is done, she plans to pursue it until she can make her dream come true.
“When I started to fall in love with it, I knew I wanted to play golf professionally,” Propeck said. “Competing at higher levels gave me a bit of a reality check. But I think as I’ve grown in my game and as a person, I’ve seen the kind of work it takes to get there. I definitely have that dream in mind still and I hope that’s in my future. It’s a tough road ahead, but it’s one that I know will be worth it in the end.”
