Inverness golf marvel Iona Roska heads for the States with US scholarship
TEEING off with the boys has given young Inverness golfer Iona Roska the ideal preparation for a life on the American college circuit.
Roska, who plays out of Inverness Golf Club, is the only girl at the Culcabock Road club, meaning she plays rounds of match-play with the junior boys instead.
The teenager heads out to America in August on a golf scholarship, where she will combine her sport with studying a business and economics degree at Cameron University, Oklahoma.
Given she has only played golf for four years, the two-time club player of the year has crammed a great deal in. Roska won the Ladies Scratch Open at Inverness last year and was also the Torvean junior handicap champion.
“Here, I’m the only girl at the club, so I practise with the boys,” said the former Culloden Academy pupil.
“I do match-play with the boys and play off their tees and pars, which makes it harder. They can hit it miles and that’s definitely helped my game.
“I try to play every Thursday (at Inverness), just to get my handicap down. I’m never too worried about winning – just about reducing my handicap.”
Roska (18) plays off seven and started her golf career at Torvean, before switching memberships to Inverness three years ago.
Her rise to prominence is all the more surprising given that golf was not her first sport.
“I used to play basketball but I had a friend who lived near me that played a lot of golf, so I gave up basketball. I started getting coaching at Torvean then about three years ago, joined Inverness,” she said. “The ladies there really encouraged me and were very welcoming.
“It’s an addictive sport. If you have a bad round, you want to go back out against. You want to stay and practise until you get better.”
She follows in the footsteps of Russell Knox (Jacksonville) and Rory Franssen (Missouri), who left Inverness for America on golf scholarships.
The American collegiate sport system is split into Divisions I, II and III. The larger, well-funded colleges are in Division I, with 300 smaller schools separated regionally in Division II.
Cameron University Aggies compete in the Lone Star Conference in Division II, playing against 10 schools from New Mexico and Texas, situated in the southern US.
In each tournament, competing colleges select five players and their cumulative two-round scores dictate the team’s overall placing.
“I’ll be quite nervous about playing in the college competitions because you’re not just playing for yourself anymore. You have to do well for your team,” said Roska.
“I’ll be playing competitions all year and that’s why I chose Oklahoma, because the weather is warm. There are only five spots on the team, so you have to qualify.”
Her scholarship will cover her tuition fees, accommodation, meals, team travel and all relevant golfing costs for four years. She was scouted by United Sports USA, a scholarship consultancy agency, at last year’s Scottish Girls U18 Stroke play Championship at Strathmore
While she wants to impress in a sporting capacity, Roska is also keen to make the most of her education.
“I’m hoping to focus a lot of my time on my education,” she said. “Obviously, turning pro would be my main goal but I know I’m not good enough to get into a Division I school, so there’s not a great chance. But If I went to university here I probably wouldn’t get the opportunity to play golf.
“I’m sure I will enjoy it and if I practise hard, I can improve. I haven’t been playing for that long and I’ve got quite far in that time.
“I don’t think my mum really wants me to go but my dad said it would be good not just for my golf, but on a personal level too.”