DOTHAN, Ala.— Monday afternoon, Matthew Streitman was joined by his family, Houston Academy classmates, and his golf coaches/mentors as he signed his letters of intent to further his golf career and education at the University of Alabama Birmingham.
The Senior originally committed to be a Blazer back in January of this year and since announcing his plans to join the Blazer golf program, never once did his intentions waiver.
“My coach made a promise to me that no way could have been broken, so that commitment was a bigger deal than anything to me. So to finally put my name on the dotted line, it means a lot,” Streitman said.
During the ceremony, Houston Academy’s Headmaster, Scott Phillipps spoke prior to the signing. During his speech, he paid many compliments to Streitman that reflected who the senior was as an athlete but also as a young man.
Phillipps was one of three speakers during the signing that would speak highly of Streitman. Being embraced by a support staff like that added to an already special day.
“It means a lot, there are people I look up to and for them to look at me like that, it means a lot,” Streitman said. “To see the support system that I have throws in some extra motivation for sure.”
Streitman has been a large part in helping Houston Academy win back to back state championships in 2018 and 2019. Of course, the 2020 season was cut short due to Covid-19.
It was back during that 2019 title run that Streitman caught the attention of the UAB golf program. During the 3A, South 1 tournament, Streitman shot six under par with a score of 64 at the Montgomery Country Club.
But, with one more season ahead of him, Streitman has some unfinished business to tend to.
“Definitely want to go out and get that third one but not only as a team but also as an individual. That was one of my main goals for last year, to win a state championship and I didn’t get to do that.”
Outside of what Streitman has done for his school, he has impressed throughout his teenage years during the offseason.
This past summer, Streitman finished 22nd in the very competitive Future Masters tournament held right here at the Dothan Country Club. He has done pretty well at the Future Masters placing 2nd back in 2017 when he was in the 13 and 14 year old division.
Moving on to UAB, the Blazers golf team has been successful this year winning a majority of the events they have competed in. That success is something that Streitman wants to contribute to immediately.
“It sets a high standard, I have my work cut out for me for sure, I don’t want to go there and mess around my first two years and then play, I want to play right away. In order for that to happen it is going to take a lot of hard work and improvement before I get there,” Streitman said.
