But when the Markham resident decided to take part in his first competitive golf tournament just four years ago it turned out to be a wise move.

Not right away though as McRae placed 49th out of a field of 50.

But that disappointing result gave him the incentive to improve his game.

In subsequent events he made some giant strides on the fairways.

Just recently, his efforts caught the attention of Goldey-Beacom College in Wilmington, Delaware, a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II school that offered him a scholarship.

What intrigued McRae about the school was their focus on business studies as well as their golf program.

"When I considered the small school size, the academic focus on business, an amazing home golf course of Hartefeld National, and playing for Coach John Asbell - the Division II Central Athletic Collegiate Conference coach of the year; made Goldey-Beacom seem like the right fit for me to get a quality education and continue to take my golf to the next level," McRae said.

A Grade 12 Markham District High School student, McRae recently finished his 2009 season with a return trip to the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations championships. Shooting a second-place round of 74 in the York Region Athletic Association finals enabled McRae to again qualifying as one of two golfers from the YRAA.

This was McRae's second trip to OFSAA, an event no other Markham District High School male golfer has ever qualified for.

Also a member at York Downs Golf and Country Club, McRae won the Junior Club Championship with two day scores of 72 and 75. He also has a Canadian Junior Golf Association tournament win, several top five finishes, and solid showings at U.S. events this past season.

Among those was a third best round of 74 at the Hank Haney/IJGT Hilton Head tournament and scores of 71/77 in tough conditions at the Ocean City, Md., Under Armour College Combine, which drew interest from several U.S. universities.