By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PEDRO — Do you believe in love at first sight? How about love at first swing?

For Rock Hill Redwomen senior Isabelle Melvin, it was love at first swing after her boyfriend introduced her to the game of golf.

Melvin became so enamored with the game that she worked at it and improved so much she earned a scholarship offer from the Shawnee State University golf program and signed a letter-of-intent on Tuesday.

“My boyfriend got me into it and it looked like fun. I didn’t know anything about it a couple of years ago. I started playing and I loved it,” said Melvin.

“Last year was my first time golfing and I fell in love with it,” said Melvin. “I like it because it’s my own thing. It’s just me. If I win or fail, it’s just me. I don’t have to rely on anyone else.”

In just her second year of playing golf, Melvin shot a 91 and tied for seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament and was an All-OVC first team selection. She then tied for eighth place in the Southeast Sectional Tournament with a total of 94.

Melvin looked at several schools but settled on Shawnee State because she wanted to stay close to home. But Shawnee State women’s assistant coach Erika Martin said the Bears coaching staff of men’s head coach David Hopkins and women’s head coach Holly Hart liked what they saw.

“She has some great qualities. She came and asked me about new golf clubs which is always promising because they realize that new equipment will also make them a better golfer,” said Martin.

“She seems like a great personality. I’m sure Holly (Hart) and Hop (Hopkins) saw something in her. We’re excited to have her on our team and we’re excited to see her grow in her golf game.”

Melvin — a pitcher — plays softball and she is also a member of the bowling team. And although the early consensus might have pointed toward her playing college softball, Melvin threw everyone a curveball and opted for golf.

Melvin thought about doing all three sports in college, but she realized the overlap and both golf and softball being fall and spring sports would make it almost impossible to do them all.

“With all of them I use my arm. With softball I pitch and then I use my arm for bowling. Swinging the bat and swinging the golf club is kind of the same,” said Melvin. “I thought that’s what I wanted to do until I found golf.”

Melvin said she plays almost every weekend but noted that she has cut back in her playing time during the spring.

“I’m in softball right now, but when softball is over I’ll play every weekend,” said Melvin.

Other than school, family, friends and playing three sports, Melvin said she doesn’t have much else on her daily schedule.

“I just practice. All my life is practice,” said Melvin. “I didn’t know a lot about (golf) so I just had to work. I just want to work and get better at it.”

Melvin plans to major in biomedical science with a goal to go into forensic science.