York wins prestigious OVC academic award

When senior golfer Hunter York received his first set of golf clubs for his ninth birthday, it was not love at first sight.

“My mom tells it differently, but I remember at first I was like, Wow, I really don’t want this at all,” he said. “These are a really stupid gift.”

However, that summer changed his point of view. The Hardin, Ky., native’s grandfather who is from Murray, would always go up to Sullivan’s Par 3 Golf Course and hit range balls.

“Over the summer when my parents were working and (my grandfather) was retired, I would just hang out with him,” he said. “So I would just watch him, and I guess that I just kind of got into it that way and from Lynn Sullivan. I took my first lesson with him and just kind of got started from there. And I have played about every day ever since. I love it.”

York chose to attend Murray State not only because of how close it is to his home in Marshall County, but also, because of talent-filled golf history and the University’s underrated program.

“I just wanted to come and try to work hard and improve and see if I could somehow, maybe play on the team one day,” he said. “It’s worked out pretty well.”

Recently, York was awarded the prestigious 2012 OVC Scholar-Athlete Award. The award is given annually to three men and three women of junior or senior status. Recipients have shown accomplishments in both athletics and in the classroom.

“I was really happy because when you play golf you miss a lot of classes, and it is hard to make up all that missed work that you have,” he said. “As hard as I have worked over the past years in the class- room and on the golf course, it’s nice to see it work out.”

The golf team has had a successful fall season, winning two tournaments the Wasioto Winds Fall Kick Off Aug. 10-11 in Pineville, Ky., and the Skyhawk Classic Sept. 7-9 in Paris, Tenn.

The team also took second place at the ASU Red Wolves Classic Nov. 5-6 in Gulf Shores, Al. York said the only bad spot in the fall was losing their home tournament for the first time.

“It was weather short, only 36 holes instead of 54,” he said. “We didn’t really get the ball up, so it was kind of tough, but we still should have won.”

York felt he played really well in the fall and hopes to continue the momentum he gained into the spring season.

“I think I ended up being fourth in the conference in scoring, and 72.4 was my scoring average,” he said. “I played really well in the first tournament up at Morehead State. I shot a 66 in the second round up there, which was the lowest I have ever shot in a collegiate tournament. And I think I finished in the top 20 individually in all six tournaments, which I was pretty happy with.”

The winter workouts help him get some extra distance off of the tee, which he said he feels would help him the most. Around the greens is where he thinks he shines, York said.

“My short game I feel like is the best part of my game, especially my putting,” he said.

Looking toward the spring season, York is excited to see how the team will stack up against teams that are higher ranked and in bigger conferences. He also is excited for the OVC championships, though he is trying not to get too far ahead and take it one day at a time.

“That is always the ultimate goal, to win a conference championship,” he said. “Especially with this year being myself, Patrick Newcomb and Tyler Brown’s senior season. It’s our last go around and we would really like to win a conference championship.”

After college, York hopes to continue to play competitively in golf; however, he is not sure which circuit or if he will have a lot of time, he said.

“I really enjoy the big amateur tournaments in the summer,” he said. “I really haven’t decided if I am going to go that route because I am also going to graduate school. So I don’t know how much time I will have for golf along with that. After that I would like to test the professional waters.”

Upon graduating, York will be going to graduate school at the University to study chemistry. He wants to get involved in medical or disease research.

The spring season starts March 4 at the Samford Intercollegiate tournament, hosted by Samford University in Hoover, Ala.

Story by Jaci Kohn, Sports Editor.