Issue link: https://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1129783
211 T here is good reason Illinois, Iowa, and Arizona recruited golfer Matthew Walker out of Ottumwa (Iowa) High School. He was Class 4A state medalist in 2013 when he shot 141, the lowest score from all four classes in the state of Iowa. He was runner-up as a junior in 2014, and became a two-time medalist as a senior, once again shooting 141. ere is also reason two of those schools had no chance of signing Walker to a National Letter of Intent. "I kind of teased the other two because I always wanted to come to Iowa," Walker said May 8 at a University of Iowa all-staff meeting in Carver- Hawkeye Arena. Walker was recruited to Iowa by former head coach Mark Hankins, while current head coach Tyler Stith was an assistant coach at Minnesota. "At the time, coach Stith was at Minnesota and he was trying to get me to go more north," Walker said. "I was like, there is no way." During his four-year career, Walker played in every tournament for the Hawkeyes. He saved his best golf for last. On April 24, three days aer the Hawkeyes set a school record by carding a 54-hole score of 809 at the Hawkeye Invitational, Walker and junior teammate Alex Schaake shared the Big Ten Golfer of the Week honor. e Hawkeyes were co-medalists by firing scores of 199 (-14). "at was one of the best experiences I have had at Iowa," Walker said. "Alex and I got the win, which was a great way to finish my college career." Actually, his college career extended to the NCAA Regionals from May 13-15 in Austin, Texas. e Hawkeyes finished seventh out of 14 teams and Walker shared 47th place with a 54-score of 225 (+12). Walker picked up a golf club for the first time when he was 5-years-old. His father, Bill, told him that as soon as he learned to hit the ball, they would head to a course. Walker's love for the sport escalated from there. Growing up in Ottumwa in south central Iowa, there were really just two college options according to Walker. "Either you're going to be a Hawkeye or a Cyclone at that point," Walker said. "My dad and I grew up watching Iowa football, Iowa basketball, and we supported them 100 percent, which I am thankful for." On Jan. 22, 2018, tragedy struck when Bill died. His obituary emphasized the father-son bond: Bill was an avid sports lover. He enjoyed playing baseball, soball, bowling and especially golf. He taught his son, Matthew, how to play golf at the age of 5 and the two of them were inseparable from that moment on. He rarely missed one of Matthew's tournaments from the Iowa Junior Tour up to the collegiate level, traveling all across the country. Walker received support nearly everywhere he turned on the University of Iowa campus. "e support I got from all the coaches, staff, and even some of my teachers reached out to me," Walker said. "It is something I can never repay and I can't thank all those enough that helped me get through that time." An Academic All-Big Ten selection, Walker is throwing his cap into the professional circuit. "It has been a pleasure and dream come true to play for Iowa," he said.