Muskogee High School’s Olivia Locke

Muskogee senior golfer Olivia Locke has built her game on resilience, versatility and the people who push her to be better every day.​

Locke, a senior for the Roughers, credits her sisters for shaping the way she approaches competition and life. “My sisters inspire me because they push me to better myself every day and are always true to themselves,” she said. That example has helped her stay grounded through the ups and downs of high school golf.​

In the classroom, Locke gravitates toward English, though she said picking a single favorite teacher would be impossible because of the support she has received across campus. On the course, she leans on her 9-iron, a club she calls her favorite because of how many different shots she can hit with it. “My favorite club is probably my 9 iron because it is versatile,” Locke said.​

Locke said the best part of playing for Muskogee is the bond she shares with her teammates. “I enjoy most about being a member of my team because we all get along so great and help each other grow,” she said. Away from competition, she enjoys golfing, needlepointing, spending time with friends and going out on the lake, a balance that helps keep the sport fun.​

One of her favorite places to tee it up is Indian Springs, a course she calls “fun” and one that has challenged her to sharpen her short game. Her lowest competition round so far is 100, a benchmark she is determined to lower by continuing to focus on scoring around the greens. “I have worked most to improve my short game because that is where strokes really add up,” she said.​

Locke points to her dad as her favorite golfer and biggest role model inside the ropes. “My dad is my favorite golfer because he is always positive and loves to golf with me,” she said. That steady positivity, combined with the lessons she has learned in athletics about getting along with different people and being resilient, continues to guide her on and off the course.