Spaulding, Smith are 2022 Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame scholarship recipients
Rylie Spaulding of Wagoner and Matthew Smith of Heritage Hall in Oklahoma City are the recipients of the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame scholarships for 2022.
Spaulding, who will play collegiately for Oklahoma Baptist University, had a 4.43 grade point average and was her class valedictorian. She will study biology and pre-med in college with a goal of one day owning her own dermatology clinic.
A proud member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, Spaulding’s list of civic, athletic and academic accomplishments is astonishing.
Smith recently signed to play at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., and will major in accounting and finance. He had a 3.97 GPA at Heritage Hall where he played varsity golf for four years, helping lead the Chargers to the state championship in 2019. He too has a long list of accomplishments in other sports, at school and in various groups and activities.
The number of applicants for the two $5,000 scholarships exceeded previous years, making the always difficult job of the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame Selection Committee even more difficult. Spaulding will receive the Mid-First Bank Scholarship and Smith the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame Scholarship.
“The number of outstanding applicants we had to review this year was amazing and a real testimony to young golfers throughout the state,” said committee chairperson Lew Erickson. “In Rylie and Matthew, we have two wonderful young people who exemplify all the qualities we are looking for in our scholarship recipients. We are happy to help them get started in their collegiate careers and look forward to watching what they accomplish on and off the golf course.”
The two will be honored at the 2022 Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame Classic Oct. 24 at Southern Hills Country Club. Anyone wishing to play in the event can download an entry form at www.oklahomagolfhof.org or here. The tournament helps raise funds for the scholarships, Everett Dobson Award, to fund the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and eventually help with both a permanent and mobile display for the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame.