Mattison Lawrence '16 Recruiting Profile

I started playing golf when I was in 7th grade. My parents used to take me to play golf with them all the time, but I never actually tried to play. I hated when they took me with them because I found myself bored waiting for them to finish. One day, they drug me out to Western Hills, a local golf course here in Hopkinsville, KY and I actually tried to play. I knew as soon as I swung the golf club I loved the game and I have been playing ever since. Of course I didn't hit a very good shot the first time I swung the golf club, but something about it pulled me in. It was that year that I decided to join the school golf team. At first, I only played because I enjoyed it and it gave me a sport to play since I'm not what you would call athletic, but as I got older I realized golf is even more fun when you play good. That is when I started my journey towards improving my game. I began taking lessons, practicing more and I even bought a new set of golf clubs. Even though I am on the road to better my golf game, the real reason I still play is my passion for the game.

My family has always been full of golfers, not strong players, but ones that just simply enjoy the game. My Gigi (my grandmother) absolutely loves to golf and she does it everyday. She has always been very supportive of me and does whatever she can to help me be a better golfer. My parents are also very supportive of my golf. They love to come watch me play and see me grow into a better golfer physically and mentally. They always encourage me to try my best, but to always remember the real reason I play golf which is my passion for the game. My parents never criticize or ridicule me when I play bad, they only encourage me to play better next time because everyone has bad days it's just golf. Not only do I love to play, but I would love to continue playing for college. Neither of my parents were able to go to college so my goal is the be the first one of my family and hopefully to encourage my younger brother to go. I have always had dreams of going to college, but I never imagined myself wanting to play golf in college. Now, I can't imagine not playing.

I hope to continue my future as a young female golfer and hopefully encourage other young female golfers along the way. I love seeing women succeed in the things they once couldn't. I will continue to try my best to not only better myself as a golfer, but in my academics as well. I have always been a smart girl who loves to learn new things and I hope that in my journey to college I can learn much more. I am so thankful that my parents took me to play that day 4 years ago because I couldn't imagine a life without golf.