Personal Statement
My name is Payne Moses. I am a sophomore at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma. As of November 9, 2020, OBU Athletics decided to discontinue the men's golf program beginning fall 2021. I have only had the chance to compete in five NCAA Division II golf tournaments so far in my collegiate career as a result of the cancellation of the spring and fall of 2020. With only the upcoming spring season to play, I am looking to add to my limited collegiate experience and prepare my game for hopefully two more years of competition. Though I do not have any recent collegiate tournament rounds to speak of, in July I shot 73-73 (+4) in the 2020 Falcon Amateur at Falcon Dunes Golf Course in Wadell, Arizona to qualify for the 96th Arizona Amateur.
I graduated from Williams Field High School in May of 2019. Every year in high school, I consistently played as the number 1, 2, or 3 position. Because Arizona is such a competitive golfing state, in all areas and divisions, it was extremely beneficial to pushing me forward in my progression as a golfer and a competitor. In 2017, I, along with the other top 4 players on the Williams Field Blackhawks Men's Golf team, achieved runner-up in the Division II State Golf Championship at Omni Tucson National Golf Course. I finished 20th out of 92 golfers, with scores of 76-71, 147 (+4), with the team's low score on day 2. Also, in September 2018, our team traveled to Fort Worth, Texas for a two-day, 54-hole event called the Bart Granger Memorial Golf Tournament. We finished 5th out of 52 teams (being the only team outside of Texas) and I finished 37th out of 260 players with scores of 71-76-73 (+8). To end my senior year, we finished as team state runners-up again in 2018 in a weathered shortened 18 hole tournament, in which I shot 71 (+1) and finished T-10 individually. Each year I lettered in Varsity Golf and was captain of the golf team for my senior season in 2018.
Besides all that I have contributed to in my athletic career, academics and character are also of utmost importance. My high school GPA was 3.97 and after three semesters of college, I have a 4.0 GPA. I am pursuing a journalism with a print emphasis major along with a minor in professional writing and editing. Writing has always been my strength even in junior high, and I desire to continue it in college and beyond. Currently, I am the assistant sports editor of The Bison newspaper at Oklahoma Baptist University. I was a member of the National Honors Society (NHS) at Williams Field and enjoy serving my community in whatever ways possible. While in highschool my ACT score was a 27 and SAT a 1270.
My main purpose in life other than just pursuing golf and academics, is building my relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am a Christian and attend Rock Point Church in Queen Creek, Arizona, where I serve as a small group leader in the Preteen Ministry, committing to pouring my knowledge and the love of Jesus Christ into the kid's young and developing minds. I commit to loving all people I come to know in order to fulfill the plan God has set for my life.
As for my future collegiate goals and aspirations, both on and off the course, I plan on continuing to bring my great work ethic and consistently positive attitude to whichever team I may be on. I am open to constructive criticism and what suggestions you have to offer to help me both as an aspiring young man and golfer. I thank you in advance for considering my interest in your college program and am excited to hear back from you.
Sincerely,
Payne Moses