A native of Dix , Ill. , Sims has enjoyed a fulfilling career at a young age. After graduating he moved to Vail, Colo. , to work at The Club at Cordillera, a four-golf course resort ranked one of the top 50 golf resorts in America. He returned to Murray later that year to marry Rebecca Killough, a 2005 MSU animal health technology alumna. The two met while serving on the Agriculture Leadership Council.

In the winter of 2006 Sims accepted an internship position at The Olympic Club in San Francisco , ranked 22 nd in America . The position was part of the Northern California Golf Association Superintendent Internship Program. His work in San Francisco proved to be his most beneficial professional experience to date. Sims and other interns were in charge of preparing for the 2007 U.S. Amateur Tournament.

After completing his internship in San Francisco he accepted a second assistant superintendent position at Victoria National Golf Club, ranked 21 st in the nation, in Newburgh , Ind. After he worked nine months at Victoria , Rebecca was offered a position in Georgia . “As fate would have it, there was a second assistant superintendent position open at Augusta National Golf Club at the same time,” said Sims. “Rebecca accepted her job offer, we moved to Augusta , and a few weeks ago I was offered the job at Augusta National. It’s hard to describe just how excited I am to get this job and how much it means to my career. I’ve always been the type of person who pushes myself to do my best, but I never thought I would get the opportunity to have a managerial position this soon.”

Sims interest in horticulture blossomed his sophomore year at MSU when he met Dr. Pat Williams, MSU professor of horticulture. “If Dr. Williams had not constantly pushed me to succeed and be prepared me for the real world, there is no way I would have made it to where I am today,” Sims said.

Williams is humbled that Sims would credit him for his career successes. “He is the type of student every professor wants in their class,” says Williams. “If we all had a classroom full of Justins, there is no limit to what classes could accomplish. When Justin first decided to pursue a career in golf course management, the only experience he had was from one year in high school. Despite this, he has managed to work at four of the more prestigious golf courses in the U.S. with a horticulture degree from Murray State . Only a person with drive and the will to succeed could accomplish his feat.”

As a student as Murray State , Sims was also active in the Student Government Association (SGA). Jeanie Morgan, SGA coordinator, remembers the quality student Sims always strived to be. “Justin was one of the most outstanding young men I've had the privilege to work with. He was an excellent student, respected by his peers, staff and faculty and was 110 percent responsible and reliable. Most importantly, he was a young man that everyone truly liked and respected. I always felt Justin was focused on what he wanted to accomplish in life and was willing to work hard but not compromise his principles to achieve his goal,” said Morgan.

Sims is taking the lessons he learned at MSU to every golf course and challenge he faces in life. “The most beneficial thing Murray State did for me was put me in contact with quite a few people who taught me that nothing worth having comes easy. If a person really wants to succeed in life they must work hard and constantly find ways to improve professionally and personally,” Sims said.

For more information on The Master’s Tournament and the Augusta National Golf Club, visit www.masters.org.