Walthall signs with Southeastern Oklahoma State

On the golf course, Hope Walthall tries to hold herself with what she known as an, “internal arrogance.” That technique, undoubtedly, helped her win two state championship rings at El Dorado and shoot a school-record 67 as a senior.

Walthall hopes to hold that very same “internal arrogance” with her to varsity. She signed Wednesday to play at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. 

“This has been a rollercoaster of events. It’s been very stressful. I’m not going to lie, I was stressed,” Walthall stated. “But, signing that paper and knowing I’m going to play college golf and I’ve got that secured and in the back of my pocket, I’m beyond grateful for all the opportunities. I’m beyond grateful for what Southeastern has offered me and what they’ve provided me. I’m relieved, grateful, humble … everything.”

El Dorado coach Chris Ezell stated Walthall will go away El Dorado as a four-time All-Conference and four-time All-State performer.

“I am so proud of Hope,” stated Ezell. “It’s a great day to see your athletes be able to earn the opportunity to continue to play their sport after high school. After the high school and prep career she has accomplished, signing to play collegiate golf is the culmination of all the time and effort she has put into her golf game. She has represented El Dorado well and we wish her good luck at Southeastern Oklahoma State.”

Walthall shot 85 to earn All-State honors on the 5A State Tournament this season. Her 67 gained medalist on the 5A South Conference Tournament. She helped the Lady Wildcats win back-to-back state championships as a sophomore and a junior.

“I was very pleased with my performance. Conference couldn’t have gone any better,” she stated. “State could’ve been better. I didn’t reach my goal to get to Overalls but it’s O.K. because that’s golf. I’m not going to let it stop me or get me down or whatever. But, overall, I was very pleased with how I played and how I kept myself together.”

In addition to Southeastern Oklahoma, Walthall additionally visited UA-Monticello and Oklahoma Wesleyan. She stated the Savage Storm program was love at first sight.

“I absolutely fell in love with it. We went and toured (in November) and I absolutely fell in love. I love the town. I love the university. I love the people there, the coaches, the teachers, everything about it. It was screaming home,” she stated. “I did have my other options but after I visited that college I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s the one.’ I knew it when I got in the truck to head home. It’s my place.”

Walthall stated the campus in Durant, Okla., is 4 ½ to five hours from dwelling. 

“I think it’s the right distance. My parents don’t want me super close so I can come home every weekend but they also don’t want me super far. They like the five hours,” she defined.

Southeastern will introduce ladies’s golf within the 2023-24 season. 

It shall be eligible for the 2024 Great American Conference championship. 

Savage Storm golf coach Sydney Youngblood competed at Oklahoma and is a local of Durant.

“I do know the coach is very knowledgeable in her golf field. She played college golf at Oklahoma University. She knows what she’s doing,” stated Walthall. “That’s one of the main reasons or a big reason I went there. I just know I’ll be able to grow as a golfer with her knowledge and ability.”

Walthall, who stated she plans to check nursing, stated her golf sport is a continuing work in progress. But she desires to deal with the psychological facet as she takes the game to the following degree.

“That’s both mental and physical. You have to work on your game but you can’t let yourself get cocky or arrogant. You also can’t let yourself think, ‘you suck.’ You have to have internal arrogance but also be humble enough to know,” she defined.

What is inner vanity?

“It’s something me and my parents talk about a lot. Every golfer at every match we play, you have to go into a match with this internal arrogance saying, yes, this is my tournament,” stated Walthall.

“I’m going to do good. This is my game. I’m going to win. But you also can’t be so cocky on the outside where you’re so arrogant and it doesn’t work. You have to believe in yourself.”

For Walthall, Wednesday’s signing marked the tip of 1 street and the start of one other. She had a variety of assist finishing the primary a part of her journey.

“There’s two people that have impacted my golf game and my life,” she started, “number one being, Coach Art Noyes from Kids-n-Golf. He’s my saving grace in golf. He has brought me back to love the game. He’s been there for me from day one. I would not be here without him. I’m beyond grateful. He’s God’s greatest gift to me. He’s one of the best people I know for my golf.

“The second person would be my coach (Chris Duncan) down in Louisiana. He has brought my physical and mental game ability to like I’ve never seen in my life. He’s made me grow as a golfer in so many ways and I appreciate him so much.”