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.

“I wanted to be better than him because we are a competitive family,” McCance said. “Anything he did, I wanted to do. I fell in love with it once I started playing and wanted to get better.”

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’s house.

MacCluen said McCance routinely hits her drives 250 to 260 yards.

“For her size, pound-for-pound, it’s amazing how hard she hits the ball,” MacCluen said. “She’s 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.”

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.

“The thing I think I have to focus on the most is hitting greens and getting closer to the pins,” McCance said. “It’s been a struggle for a few years within 100 yards, but there is always stuff to improve on.”

Savannah State’s 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.

“As far as in school goes, it’s about being able to manage your time,” MacCluen said. “Golf is a sport where you miss more school for tournaments than any other sport. It’s hard to get your stuff done. It’s 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.”

McCance said she has never spent much time far from home but is excited for the challenge.

“It’s going to be a lot to take in,” McCance said. “It’s 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.”

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