SMU’s McClure Meissner named Byron Nelson Award winner

McClure Meissner has been named the Byron Nelson Award winner, an honor given to a college senior who demonstrates character and integrity.

SMU senior McClure Meissner has been awarded the 2021 Byron Nelson Award presented by Srixon/Cleveland Golf. The award is presented in cooperation with the Salesmanship Club of Dallas and the Golf Coaches Association of America.

Meissner was chosen from a pool of college seniors who demonstrated character, integrity and citizenship throughout their college golf career.

“McClure’s success on the golf course, in the classroom and in his local community represents excellence in all phases of the student-athlete. He joins an outstanding group of former Byron Nelson Award recipients who continue to succeed in many endeavors, including the PGA Tour,” Mike Dunphy, player development manager at Srixon/Cleveland Golf, said in a release. “We wish McClure Meissner the best on his journey and are proud he will be representing collegiate golf’s finest award going forward.”

Meissner, a native San Antonio, Texas, capped his SMU career with a scoring average of 71.24 and holds the school single-season scoring record. Last summer he won the Southern Amateur at Maridoe Golf Club in Dallas. McClure, an alternate on the victorious Walker Cup team, saw action in one foursomes match over the weekend at Seminole Golf Club, in which he combined with Ricky Castillo to win an early point for the U.S. team.

Off the golf course, Meissner has served his community by volunteering at Brother Bill’s Helping Hand, the College Golf Fellowship and Watermark Church.

As the Byron Nelson Award winner, Meissner will receive an exemption to play in the 2022 AT&T Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.

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Finalists announced for 2020 Byron Nelson Award presented by Srixon/Cleveland Golf

Three finalists have been announced for the 2020 Byron Nelson Award presented by Srixon/Cleveland Golf.

The majority of the spring portion of the college golf season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but awards are still being handed out.

On Tuesday, the GCAA has announced the finalists for the 2020 Byron Nelson Award presented by Srixon/Cleveland Golf: Baylor’s Colin Kober, Louisville’s John Murphy and Georgia Tech’s Tyler Strafaci.

“It is with great pride that we at Srixon/Cleveland Golf once again have the honor of recognizing the finalists for the Byron Nelson Award,” said Rodney McDonald of Srixon/Cleveland Golf. “The three young men who are our finalists this year exemplify what Byron stood for on the golf course, in the classroom and most importantly in his community”

Nelson Award candidates must be a graduating senior. The selection committee takes into consideration the player’s entire collegiate academic and golf career, as well as his character and integrity.

Over a four-year career at Baylor, Kober earned a 72.99 career scoring average, 11th-best in school history. A 2019 Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar, 2019 Big-12 Men’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the year and the 2018 and 2019 NCAA Elite 90 Award winner, Kober served in the community at the Waco Habitat for Humanity and Feed My Starving Children.

Hailing from Kinsale, Ireland, Murphy boasts a career scoring average of 71.98 and earned two individual wins this season for Louisville. A Ping All-Region selection in 2019 and 2020, 2020 Ping Honorable Mention All-American and ACC-All Academic Team selection, Murphy helped in the community at the Franciscan Kitchen of Louisville, the Open Adult Wheelchair Basketball event for the Metro Parks Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation division, as well as the local Salvation Army.

Strafaci’s 71.60 career scoring average is good enough for sixth all-time in Georgia Tech history. A three-time Ping All-Region selection and Ping Honorable Mention All-American in 2020, Strafaci regularly serves with the EXCEL Program at Georgia Tech, a four-year program offered to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He also mentors junior golfers in the summer and participates in the Michael Isenhour Toy Drive each fall.

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