Links Golf Club's Harry O'Shea secures scholarship at New Mexico Junior College
The Links Golf Club's Harry O'Shea has capped a year to remember by securing himself a comprehensive scholarship at the well-renowned New Mexico Junior College in America.
In what has been an unpredictable and uncertain few months for many, O'Shea has been a pillar of consistency out on the golf course.
The 17-year-old won the CAGU Summer Series and was equally as successful on the British Junior Golf Tour, as well as qualifying for the Junior European Open and Champion of Champions event in 2021.
O'Shea (left) collects his British Junior Golf Tour prize from European Tour CEO Keith Pelley. Picture: Neil Randall
And such results have not gone unnoticed on the other side of The Atlantic, where ex-Bottisham Village College student O'Shea will be enrolling in the autumn of next year.
It continues a remarkable rise by the Stetchworth-based golfer, who only took up the sport less than four years ago after some encouragement from his elder brother George.
His mother Lesley Bell said: "It has been a very strong year and totally down to hard work and dedication.
"We sat down last winter and formulated a plan of what Harry wanted to achieve this year.
"It has been busier with the lockdowns and the restrictions, but we have managed to cover everything.
"Harry has been fantastic and the year has been way above and beyond what we hoped for.
"A scholarship has been Harry's goal ever since he fell in love with golf.
"We did our research and New Mexico has one of the strongest golf programmes in America – it's in the top three.
"It is the right place for a number of reasons and Harry is really excited."
Lesley was also keen to credit The Links for the role they have played in her son's rapid development, having joined the Cambridge Road-based club in 2017.
"Jonny Sharkey (PGA assistant) is really passionate about the juniors at the club and he has worked closely with Harry," she added.
"The junior squad are really good friends but they are also competitive and drive each other on.
"The club has been brilliant for Harry and are always very supportive."