Maverick McNealy of Stanford was named winner of the Mark H. McCormack Medal as the leading player in the 2016 World Amateur Golf Rankings.
The 20-year-old McNealy, a senior from Portola Valley, won four college tournaments last season, was selected to the All-American team and became the sixth player–including Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson–to win the Pacific 12 Conference Player of the Year Award twice.
“To win the McCormack Medal is both very special and a huge honor,” said McNealy, who has represented the United States in the Walker Cup and the Arnold Palmer Cup matches. “Amateurism is something that is very important to me, and I really appreciate all that the USGA and The R&A do to promote and support the amateur game at all levels.
“It is very humbling to join the list of previous winners, as well as this year’s (women’s) winner, Leona Maguire (of Ireland and Duke), all of whom have reached the pinnacle of amateur golf. I hope that I can represent this award as well as it has been represented over the past nine years.”
McNealy has 10 victories at Stanford, tied with Patrick Rodgers for second in school history behind Woods’ 11.
The award presented by The R&A and the United States Golf Association and is named after Mark H. McCormack, who founded the sports marketing company IMG and was a great supporter of amateur golf.
As winner of the award, McNealy receives an exemptions into the 2017 U.S. Open Championship at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis., and the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, as long as he remains an amateur.
