(MSUB Athletics release)
BILLINGS – Returning to his home town to complete his collegiate golf career, Billings Skyview High School graduate Payton Stott will join the Montana State University Billings men’s golf team next season announced head coach Kevin Woodin Wednesday.
“I am so glad Payton has decided to transfer to MSUB,” said Woodin. “He is both an outstanding person and golfer. I have known Payton and his family for more than a decade. He will make an immediate, positive impact on our team, and I look for him to help lead our men’s golf program to new heights next year.”
Stott has spent the last two years at Utah Valley University (NCAA D1), where he competed in six tournaments as a freshman in 2016-17 and one tournament this year in 2017-18. Stott held a scoring average of 77.4 in his seven collegiate tournaments, and notched a single-round low of 69 during his freshman campaign with the Wolverines.
“Being away from home in Montana and attending UVU has helped me grow as a person and as an athlete,” Stott said. “Coming back to my home town for my last two years of college just seemed that it was something I needed to do. I grew up playing with most all of the guys on the team, which will make this a lot of fun. I have known Coach Woodin and Coach (Marcus) Drange for quite a while now, so I am very excited to be able to play for them.”
Prior to his collegiate career, Stott was a two-sport athlete for the Falcons, competing in golf for four years and also winning a pair of letters as a guard on the basketball team. On the links, Stott was a four-time top-10 finisher at the state tournament. He also served as team captain and claimed multiple tournament titles.
On the hardwood, Stott earned all-state honors as a senior, and was named the MVP of the state tournament while serving as his team’s captain. Additionally, Stott competed in the Montana-Wyoming All Star Game.
Stott is the first men’s golf signing for the Yellowjackets for the 2018-19 academic year.
