Baldwin School’s Megan Adelman is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week
The Baldwin junior captured the Inter-Ac Girls Golf Tournament title, shooting a 37 for nine holes at French Creek Golf Club, then winning in a playoff with a memorable recovery shot. A three-sport athlete at Baldwin (soccer, basketball, golf), Adelman is a fourth-year captain of the Polar Bears’ golf team. Outside of golf, she is a representative for the school’s Athletic Association, as well as a member of Lamplighters and Model United Nations. Adelman also has a fine golf resume outside of Baldwin, which includes first-place finishes in the Junior/Junior Girls Pennsylvania State Championship (2018) and the Philadelphia PGA Section Tour Girls 16-18 Championship (2020), and a second-place finish at the Kiawah Girls Classic for the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls Golf Tour in 2021.
Q: What is your favorite memory of the recent Inter-Ac Girls Golf Tournament?
A: My favorite memory is walking off the green of the playoff hole to be greeted by my mom and dad. They have watched me work hard and sacrifice a lot for six years to reach this goal, and to have them both there to see me accomplish it means the world to me. They also know how much this win means to me and knowing how proud they are of me made the day so special.
Q: What do you think were the biggest keys to your first-place finish at the Inter-Ac tournament?
A: My mental game and discipline. Before stepping onto the course I had decided that I was prepared to do everything I needed out on the course to make sure I played the best round I could have. I knew the field was strong and that I was going to have to work hard and earn the title – it wasn’t going to be given to me. But, my motivation didn’t just stem from how badly I wanted to win. I was representing Baldwin and knowing I could win this title for the school too, made me work harder. Baldwin has given me so much academically and athletically… this is one of the ways that I planned on giving back. In addition, as soon as I stepped onto the range I was focused on what needed to get done. When I was out on the course I had a blast, but that doesn’t mean I got sloppy. Not once did I deviate from my routine. My shots may not have been perfect but my misses were where they needed to be so I could be successful. I was physically tired but I knew that if I stayed disciplined and did not let my emotions get the best of me, I would win.
Q: What is your favorite memory of the playoff?
A: My favorite memory was the comeback that no one (except my parents because they know that this is typical of my game) thought I was going to be able to make. I had completely pulled my drive almost out of bounds into thick brush. When I say it was the worst drive I have hit in weeks, I mean it literally was the worst swing I made in a long time. But, I had no doubt in my mind that I was going to be able to recover. I hit a great recovery shot leaving me with a short iron into the green. I hit a solid shot and left it about 30 feet from the pin. From where my opponent was located on the green, I knew I had a better opportunity to par. My strategy was to just get the ball as close to the hole as I could. I left myself with a two-foot putt to win. When I made it, everyone was in disbelief that I was actually able to come back and win. When I won I started cheering and was really excited, but no one else was cheering. I looked at everyone and asked, “I won, right?” I literally thought I had counted wrong and we were still tied and we had to go to another playoff hole. But then everyone came to, and it will always be a moment I remember.
Q: What part of your game do you consider strongest?
A: Right now, I would consider my putting the strongest part of my game. During recent practice sessions, I’ve been focusing more time on speed control and capitalizing on short birdie opportunities, so I have been able to greatly improve.
Q: What aspect of your game are you working on the most currently?
A: I’m working on driver and tee shots. I love to hit my driver because I can hit pretty far and swing pretty fast, but when the technical aspect of my swing gets a little messed up the ball flight becomes inconsistent making it harder for me to hit accurate tee shots.
Q: What originally sparked your interest in golf?
A: When I was 4 years old my mom and grandfather went out to play. I wanted to tag along and so I rode around in the cart. They both thought I would only last a few holes but I stayed for all 18. The next morning I called my grandfather to take me out to the course to play. My mom and I bought plastic clubs and I hit the ground running.
Q: What golf mentors have been particularly influential to you?
A: My mom has definitely been a golf mentor of mine. Before I became very competitive she would always take me out on the course and teach me course management. Her positivity and humor on the course helped me find my love for the sport. She is my biggest motivator and constantly tells me that if I work hard I can do anything I put my mind to. Around six years ago I started working with my swing coach, Mark Shefitc. Without his guidance, I wouldn’t have developed into the technical player I am. Numbers and stats are big for me… that I learned from Mark. We work really well together and he teaches me to be creative on the course. Mark and his family have become some of my biggest supporters and winning the Inter-Ac Championship wouldn’t have been possible without them. In August of 2020, I started working with college recruiting consultant Brandi Jackson. Not only does she help me with the college aspect of golf, but she helps my mental game and never fails to give advice when I need it. If I am anxious or nervous before tournaments she always knows the right thing to say and helps re-center my focus. She is an awesome role model and I’m so thankful I get to work with her. I also have to shout out my trainer, Antonio Davis. He doesn’t necessarily do much golf-related with me but I am a much stronger and more confident athlete because of his guidance. He helps me with my nutrition, workouts, recovery, and mentality. He has helped me see the true potential I have as not only a golfer but as a student-athlete as well.
Q: What is your favorite club and why?
A: I would say my 25-degree hybrid because it’s the most consistent and reliable club I have in my bag. I can always trust myself to use it if I ever need to get out of a tough situation or need to hit a tight green. I can hit it anywhere from 170 to 190 yards depending on the weather.
Q: What is your favorite golf ball and why?
A: My favorite golf ball is the Titleist ProV 1X with the number 1. I think the mechanics of the ball fits with my game and I just love the red number 1. Playing number 1 is a habit of mine because every time I see it I think, one shot, one putt, first place. Everything associated with 1 in the game of golf is good!
Q: What size grips do you feel most comfortable with?
A: I use the super-stroke small grips on a majority of my clubs. They provide some comfort but they aren’t so big that you can’t feel what the club is doing. For my putter, I use a very thin grip because I like to feel exactly how the putter is moving so I know what my putts will do.
Q: What is your favorite hole at your home course and why?
A: My home course is Bala Golf Club and I would have to say my favorite hole is the 10th hole, a par 5. I love this hole because it’s the only par 5 and it’s made for long-ball hitters. You can get up on the tee, grip it, and rip it into the wide fairway. But there are plenty of different ways to play the hole so you can get creative out there too.
Q: What is your favorite golf course and why?
A: My favorite golf course would have to be Pebble Beach. I have played there once and I’d love to go back; it’s breathtaking! It’s also a really challenging course but rewarding if you play smart. And nothing’s better than saying you have played the same course as professionals!
Q: Who is your favorite golfer and why?
A: My favorite golfer is Annika Sorenstam. She broke the glass ceiling in the game of women’s golf and is the only LPGA golfer to shoot a 59 during a tournament. She is an inspiration to me; I met her once when I was younger and she told me to always follow my dreams. I haven’t stopped chasing them since.
Q: Is there a golfer whose game you try to pattern your game after?
A: Personally, I don’t pattern my game after anyone because I think golf is the type of sport where individuality is necessary. I think every person has their own golf game and so you shouldn’t necessarily try to model your game after someone else. I think everyone’s swing, mentality, decision-making, etc. is different. What makes golf so interesting is that everyone plays the game differently at different skill levels. If everyone followed the same pattern out on the course, it would get boring pretty fast. With individuality comes creativity.
Q: What is your favorite academic course at Baldwin School?
A: That’s a tough one! I would have to say my favorite academic course would have to be either physics or supreme court/constitutional law. They both are extremely interesting and require me to constantly problem solve.
Q: What do you think you might like to major in at college?
A: I know these are two completely different paths, but I’m thinking of either Aerospace engineering or International Relations/Political Science.
Q: Is there a career field that particularly interests you at this time?
A: I’m hoping to pursue a career as a pilot in the US Navy and then make my way into government service.
Fun facts – Megan Adelman
Favorite book: Fair Game by Valerie Plame.
Favorite TV show: FBI: International.
Favorite movie: Top Gun.
Favorite pre-round pump-up song: Unstoppable by The Score.
Favorite team: USWNT.
Favorite place to visit: Washington, D.C.
Favorite pre-round meal: Plain bagels.
Family members: parents Gregg Adelman and Amy Griffith.
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)
