Awards and Honors
OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2021-22)
Dean's List (F22, S23)
Athletic Director's Honor Roll (F21, S22, F23, S24, F24, S25)
As a senior in 2024-25: Played in two tournaments for the Governors… posted a 76.71 scoring average with one round at even or under par and a counting score in 3-of-5 rounds played while in the lineup… shot 151 (71-80) and finished tied for 67th while playing as an individual at UT Martin’s Grover Page Classic… dropped his match in the Battle of the Border Match Play, which the Govs won 6-4 over the Murray State… made his season debut in the lineup at the A-State Spring Invitational where he shot 228 (75-76-77) and finished tied for 41st… shot 80 and 78 in the first round rounds of the ASUN Men’s Golf Championship, respectively, before being subbed out prior to the third round.
As a junior in 2023-24: Played in two tournaments with two appearances in the lineup for the Governors… posted a 75.40 scoring average with three rounds at even or under par… carded two counting scores in the five rounds he played while in the lineup… shot 223 (71-75-77) and finished tied for 57th while playing as an individual at UT Martin’s Grover Page Classic… Played on Austin Peay’s “B Team” at the APSU Intercollegiate, shooting 141 (71-70) to finish fifth overall, lead the “B Team”, and finish third overall among APSU players… fell to Murray State’s Brady Haake, 5&3, in the Battle of the Border Match Play… Made his season debut in the lineup at the World Golf Village Collegiate, where he shot 228 (73-77-78) and finished tied for 73rd… shot 162 (88-74) and finished tied for 99th at the Any Given Tuesday Intercollegiate.
As a sophomore in 2022-23: Played in four tournaments and both matches for the Govs… recorded a 77.15 stroke average with one round in the 60s and a pair of rounds at even or under par… tallied four counting scores in the nine rounds he played in the Governors’ lineup… opened his season with a 241 (75-82-84) at the Georgia State Invitational… dropped a 20-hole match to Murray State’s Josh Buchanan at the Battle of the Border Match Play… shot a 231 (74-79-78) and finished tied for 68th at the Mickey Mouse Intercollegiate… played as an individual and shot a three-over 75 in a stroke-play match against UT Martin at Bluegrass Yacht & Country Club… played as an individual at the Big Blue Intercollegiate and shot a career-low, three-under 68 in the third round to close his season with a five-over 218 (78-72-68) and a 40th-place finish.
As a Freshman in 2021-22: Played in five tournaments, totaling 15 rounds, 10 of which counted for the Govs… registered a stroke average of 75.20… shot one round in the 60s to go along with four rounds under par … recorded his first collegiate round under par, shooting a 70 in round two at the Xavier Invitational… led the Govs at the Battle at Black Creek with a score of 223 to finish tied for 47th… shot a season-best 69 in the second round of the MU Tiger Invitational… finished tied for 24th to post his best finish of the season at the MU Tiger Invitational.
Prior to Austin Peay: Three-time region champion for Valwood School… a three-time state tournament qualifier who placed third at the Georgia Independent School Association State Championships… was invited to both the 2020 Georgia High School Association All-State All-Star Tournament and the 2021 GHSA Georgia/South Carolina Cup… on the summer circuit, earned a slew of top-five finishes, including a win at the 2019 Blue Devil Invitational… a stalwart on the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour, he's a four-time qualifier for the Georgia State Golf Association Junior Championship who is also a member of the Player Development Program at Sea Island Golf Performance Center.
Personal: Payne Ross Elkins is the son of Mike and Caroline Elkins… has a sister, Payton, who played on the women’s golf team at Austin Peay from 2019-23… born Jan. 25… a finance major.
