91��ý

Golf was important to Drew Nelson �17 when he was an Academic All-American at 91��ý earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in business. He didn�t know then that golf would become the link to receiving a scholarship that is allowing him to pursue a Master�s of Science (MSc) in Management with a focus in Finance at Durham University in England.

Drew accepted a postgraduate scholarship from Play Overseas, a program that helps graduates of NCAA/NAIA institutions identify postgraduate athletic scholarship opportunities that allow them the chance to continue their student-athlete career in the United Kingdom. A three-time Pacific West Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year in golf, Drew arrived at Durham in September of 2018  and left two days later to compete in a tournament with its golf team. They play on such renowned golf courses as Royal St. George�s and St. Andrews.

�This is absolutely a win-win for me. I get to live in fantasy land for another year by studying for a master's and competing in golf again, all while experiencing a new country and culture,� says Drew, who was working as a financial analyst at Central Coast VNA & Hospice in Hollister before accepting the scholarship.

�Getting my master�s has always been a long-term goal. I know it will propel me to the next level professionally and, for the time being, I am just going to ride the breeze and smell the roses as I embark on my journey.�

The journey started at 91��ý where Drew�s concentration was finance in the Barowsky School of Business. Drew, who graduated from Robert Louis Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, interned at Granite Construction�s headquarters in Watsonville as a financial analyst and later, in the same role, interned at Hayward Lumber Company in Monterey.

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�My experiences at 91��ý taught me about time management and prioritizing my responsibilities, which helped me in the workplace during the last year as well,� Drew says. �Golf is arguably the most demanding sport at 91��ý as we miss quite a bit of class for tournaments, so it is always important to be on top of your priorities. I will be able to draw from the opportunities Coach Gary Nelson and the 91��ý golf team provided me on the golf course as well as the challenges I was presented with in the classroom in order to succeed at Durham.�

Drew learned about Playing Overseas from a friend who earned her master�s degree at Cambridge University. Once he received a postgraduate scholarship, Drew considered three different universities in England: Hertfordshire University, Bournemouth University, and Durham University.

�Durham is an extremely reputable university, as it is ranked inside the Top 5 UK universities and Top 100 universities worldwide. The school also has a phenomenal reputation among employers worldwide as they prepare their students extremely well for the work world,� Drew says. �The golf program is extremely good, so I feel I can come into the school and make an impact in the classroom, but also on the golf course, and that is something I pride myself in.�