Budding golf star Ella secures coveted US scholarship

A sports student at Derby College Group is a step closer to achieving her dream of becoming a professional golfer after securing a coveted scholarship in the US.

Sports diploma student Ella Whaley, of Long Eaton, is a member of the East Midlands Golf Academy, run in partnership with Derby College, which enables students to combine academic study with expert coaching and competition.

Currently in her second year, Ella is due to start at the Carson-Newman University in Tennessee next August – studying for a degree in Sports Business and training and competing across the US.

Ella started playing golf after being spotted on the driving range with her dad and grandad at Trent Lock Golf Club when she was just six years old.

She started having lessons and went onto lift several titles, including the County Schools championship when she was just 13 – competing against and beating boys in their late teens.

She has played for Derbyshire for several years, captaining the Scratch team in 2021, and has been a member of the England regional squad. She currently plays off a handicap of two.

Ella said: “I have always wanted to study in America and was drawn to Carson-Newman because of the high level of coaching and the amazing facilities there.

“The weather is obviously much better so you get to play 11 months a year unlike the UK so it will really help my game.

“With that confirmed, I can now just focus on my college work and my game.”

Earlier this year, Ella won the Faldo Series event at Royal Fairmont St Andrews – finishing the tournament at two under par and winning her age category.

Winning her age category qualified her to enter the Faldo Series grand final in Abu Dhabi.

East Midlands Golf Academy head PGA professional James Whatley said: “Ella is a great asset to the EMGA Performance Programme in conjunction with Derby College and has lots of potential so the full scholarship to Tennessee is well deserved.”