When Coach Steve Patton scouts golfers for his Truett-McConnell College golf team, he has a certain kind of player in mind.

"I don't just go out and look for the best golfer. I've got to have the total package," he said.

Dawson County High School's David Ford fits that mold.

"If I could write the blue print for the perfect player for my program, it would be him, because he's got everything I'm looking for," Patton said. "David is just an amazing young man. The first thing I noticed about him was I loved his demeanor. I could tell he was a man of high character. And he's a great golfer."

Ford signed his intend to play golf at the college last week, three days before graduation.

"I've really worked hard over the last three years, and I really wanted to play golf at college," he said. "I just kept working and it finally just fell into my lap here at the end of the year."

One of four seniors on the team, the Tigers won region 7AAA and placed 9th at the state tournament last week.

Coach Wes Greer has watched Ford's golf game improve since he first joined the team as a sophomore.

"He's just got better and better every year," he said. "And then to watch this year as a senior for him to shoot as well as he did and to help the team ... he was part of that four that we had that every day we went out and played."

Patton believes Ford will be a leader on his team at Truett-McConnell, a private Christian liberal arts and sciences college in Cleveland.

"I think he's going to be not only a leader on my team on the golf course, but also a spiritual leader on my team, which is a big deal for me, so we're very excited," he said.

Ford is excited and proud to take his game to the next level of competition.

"I've really enjoyed my time with Coach Greer. He's a great coach and great man. I'm ready to go to Truett-McConnell," he said. "I want first of all lead the team to a conference championship."