Arizona men’s golf senior Alex McMahon received the Arizona Golf Association’s Mayfair Award in Phoenix last Thursday, which represents the player with the lowest overall scoring average amongst amateur golfers in Arizona.
The AGA is a foundation that performs as the official governing body for amateur golf within the state of Arizona.
The organization does not award golfers in collegiate tournaments unless the tournament is in Arizona. The ASU Thunderbird Invitational was the only tournament in the state of Arizona that counted toward the Mayfair award. McMahon competed in the ASU Thunderbird Invitational last March, when he had a round of 62 and finished with a 200 (-13). His 62 was the best round of his junior season.
McMahon averaged a score of 68.15 in the 2014 season, and the senior was in awe after receiving the award.
“I didn’t even know they had an award like this,” McMahon said. “I never even heard of the Arizona Golf Association, but then I got this award, and I was very surprised.”
A player must complete one round of a USGA qualifier and two AGA individual major championships to qualify for the Mayfair Award. In addition, a player could become eligible for the award by completing a round of a USGA qualifier, one AGA individual major championship and one collegiate championship in the state of Arizona.
The AGA took the players’ averages after the 2014 season. As a result, McMahon’s score from the 2015 Arizona Intercollegiate was not taken into consideration for the award.
McMahon’s spring season got off to a slow start in the Arizona Intercollegiate as the senior finished the tournament shooting 10-over-par (75-71-77), which led to a tie for 54th place.
The tournaments that qualified McMahon for the award were the U.S. Open qualifier (68), the U.S. Public Links qualifier (70-64), the Pacific Coast amateur (72-61-67-73) and the Arizona amateur (72-66).
McMahon’s consistent scores helped the senior reach new heights in his career.
McMahon said he was honored for receiving this award and believes it will solidify him as a true leader on the team.
“This award tells me that I can play good golf, and it gives me some credibility when I give the young guys some advice,” McMahon said. “Being a senior has to come with some responsibility, and now I can prove to the underclassmen that I know what I’m talking about when I mentor them.”
McMahon is no stranger when it comes to winning awards either, as he earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention honors and was named to the Pac-12 All-Academic First Team in his junior season.
The Mayfair Award does not compare to the awards won last season.
“This award is pretty awesome, but I wouldn’t necessarily call it the sweetest award that I’ve won. … [Hopefully,] I can bring in a couple more,” McMahon said. “Being placed on the Pac-12 All-Academic First team was an unbelievable accomplishment, and I will always hold on to that.”
McMahon and the Wildcats travel to Pacific Palisades, Calif., for a one-day tournament on Monday before heading to Hawaii for the John Burns Invitational next Wednesday.
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