By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Nineteen-year-old Myles Alonzo, a recent Topeka West graduate, was honored Tuesday as the Topeka Golf Association 2024 Player of the Year.
Former Topeka West star Myles Alonzo was honored Monday as the Topeka Golf Association 2024 Player of the Year. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Alonzo received his award on Monday at Lake Shawnee Golf Course after the TGA wrapped up its 2024 season with the Bill McDonald Champions Stroke Play event.
The TGA Player of the Year award is based on points accumulated in all TGA events on the year, with Alonzo ending up on top with 440 points.
"I'm proud of myself and I know everybody else is proud of me,'' Alonzo said. "Hopefully, we can just keep on going and win a few more and just keep on going further and further.''
Alonzo won the city stroke play championship by nine strokes, posting a 54-hole total of 205 (68-69-68), and advanced to the quarterfinals of the match play tourney after qualifying No. 2 and teamed with brother Addison Alonzo to finish fourth in the 2-man best ball/scramble.
Former Washburn Rural and current Washburn University player Hayden Beck finished second in player of year points with 394 while James Monson (337) was third, Patrick Golden fourth (321) and Mac McFarland and Adam Head tied for fifth (316).
As a senior at Topeka West Alonzo swept city, United Kansas Conference and Class 5A regional titles before earning his third 5A state medal with a tie for 11th place. Alonzo shot a school-record 66 at regionals.
Alonzo is currently trying to formulate a plan for his future in the sport.
"This winter I'll probably reach out to a few more schools maybe, just to see what they've got to offer, and then I'm going to go play in a few Korn Ferry qualifiers and try to see how far I can make it there,'' Alonzo said.
"Maybe I can get some attention and keep on winning and just see how far I can go with it.''
2024 TGA Player of the Year Points
1. Myles Alonzo, 440.
2. Hayden Beck, 394.
3. James Monson, 337.
4. Patrick Golden, 327.
5. (tie) Mac McFarland, 316.
5. (tie) Adam Head, 316.
7. Brian Walker, 294.
8. Matt Cooper, 278.
9. Jeremiah Nelson, 269.
10. Tyler Baumchen, 262.
