Ryker Smith '18 Recruiting Profile

I became interested in the sport of golf when I was in the 5^th grade. My older brother was going to be a sophomore that year and he was going to try out for the high school golf team. He would go out to our local golf course to practice each night before tryouts and I started going out with him. I really seemed to enjoy the game and decided then, that by the following summer, I would beat my brother at his own game. I did just that, by the next summer, he and I would have friendly competitive matches but I would beat him more times than not. That is when I became truly hooked on golf. Not only has golf taught me to be a gentlemen but it has taught me how to compete honestly and fairly.

During my high school golf career the experience that has taught me the most and helped me grow the most as an athlete and person was my freshman year of high school when my Carbon High School golf team made it to the State tournament. The tournament is a 2 day event but in the order to play the 2^nd day you have to score within 10 shots of the leader or your team must be in the top ten. After the first round my team didn’t play well and missed the cut, however, 1 person from our team made it and got to play the 2^nd day. I had the hardest time ever having to watch him compete and not being able to compete myself. At that time, I made a pact to myself that would never happen again. I was in it to win it! Through competing in the UJGA and other amateur tournaments I was able to improve my game enough to make the All State first team my sophomore and junior years.