Signing on to play at the next level, is any student athlete’s dream in high school and Pike Liberal Arts golfer Ryan Johnson fulfilled his dreams as he signed the dotted line to play golf with Faulkner State next year.

Johnson, who has been golfing for nine years total and has been a member of the Patriots’ golf team for four years, said Tuesday morning he was ecstatic to have the opportunity to continue on doing what he loves in college.

“I’m just excited about it,” Johnson said. “I’m getting ready for the new experience. It’s something I’ve worked hard for all my life. I’m looking forward to it and ready to go.”

Pro golfer Bubba Watson also got his college start at Faulkner, and Johnson said he hopes to follow in the Master’s winner footsteps someday.

“I hope I can do what he did,” Johnson said. “I’m going to keep working at it and try my best. That’s about all you can do, doing all you can and working hard.”

And, while the senior had few words to say Tuesday, Gene Allen, PLAS head golf coach and athletic director, said it was always great to see an athlete sign a college scholarship.

“It’s great,” Allen said. “It doesn’t matter what sport it is. It’s always great to see a kid get the chance to continue on doing what they love and get their college degree while they’re dong it. This is the first golfer I’ve had sign, and Ryan is really deserving. He’s worked extremely hard and gotten his game down a lot. He’s playing really well, and he’s definitely earned it.”

Allen has had the opportunity to coach Johnson all four years of his time on the golf team, and Allen said the biggest change he’s seen in Ryan as a student and as an athlete was his attitude.

“Ryan has always hit the ball pretty well, but his biggest thing was controlling his emotions.” Allen said. “He had a temper when I first got here. He could get ill playing sometimes, and it would carry over to the next hole and the next hole. But, he’s really worked on that. The one distance we talk about all the time is the one between his ears, and he’s done a great job with that. He’s learned to stay focused, and he doesn’t let a bad hole get to him. That’s carried over to his score being a lot lower.”

But, for the underclassmen and golf team members Johnson is leaving behind after graduation, he gave them the advice to always work hard among other thing.

“Always work hard, don’t give up, stay patient and stay with it,” Johnson said. “And, keep your attitude straight.”