Hall of Fame
Golf is a humbling game. Golf can also teach valuable life lessons to those who play it. Paul Schock learned an important lesson while competing in the NCC Golf Tournament in 1979. Complaining about his bad luck after an errant shot, he was greeted by his coach, Terry Comstock. Paul says, "I hit my tee shot on #2 at Elmwood in Sioux Falls to the right into the woods. I found my ball right next to a tree and proceeded to complain about my bad luck. Our coach, Terry Comstock (a South Dakota golf legend) approached me on a fast walk/run, I assumed to give me solace and support. He came up to me and put his face about two inches from mine and said with much emotion "the ball goes where you hit it!". I have never since complained about a golf shot or my "luck" on the course. It was a precious, life-long lesson that had applications far beyond golf."
Paul recovered from his bad shot on #2 and went on to win the 1979 NCC Golf Championship, defeating his close friend Mark Amundson from SDSU and preventing Amundson from winning his third straight conference title in the process. Paul shot a final round 39-36-75 to win by two strokes. That year, Paul also finished in the top third of the field at the NCAA Division II National Golf Tournament. Paul is one of only four Augustana golfers to win the NCC Golf Championship.
In 1978, Paul was the South Dakota Golfer of the Year. Since graduating from Augustana, Paul has continued to have great success on the golf course. One of the finest players in South Dakota, Paul won both the state men's match play and stroke play championships in 2002. For his great year, he was honored as the SD Amateur Athlete of the Year and the SD Golfer of the Year.
