Max Lyons is BIG EAST Men's Golfer of the Year

BIG EAST Release

NEW YORK - Marquette University junior men's golfer Max Lyons has been named the 2023-24 BIG EAST Conference Player of the Year, the league announced on Monday afternoon.

Lyons also earned All-BIG EAST First Team honors for the second time in as many years and was joined on the first team by graduate student Josh Robinson. Aidan Lafferty earned second team accolades.

The National Collegiate Rankings were used to determine the individual winners and an All-BIG EAST First Team and All-BIG EAST Second Team.

Lyons led the BIG EAST with a 72.33 stroke scoring average this season, while posting 17 par-or-better rounds and five rounds in the 60s. His scoring average was plus-0.70 strokes to par and he led MU at six of its 11 events over the academic year. The native of Phoenix carded a season best 9-under 207 in MU's first event of the spring at the Puerto Rico Classic on Feb. 11-13, and his 17 par-or-better rounds is the seventh-highest single-season total in program history.

The junior climbed the MU career record book this season and ranks third in program lore in career scoring average (72.47) and fifth in par-or-better rounds (45). He is the fifth Marquette men's golfer to earn league player of the year honors, joining PING All-Americans Hunter Eichhorn (2017-18, 2020-21, 2021-22) and Mike Van Sickle (2008-09) in addition to Patrick Sanchez (2014-15) and Oliver Farrell (2018-19).

Robinson earned second team honors after garnering all-tournament recognition at last week's BIG EAST Men's Golf Championships at Riverton Pointe Golf Club after tying for third overall with an even-par 216.

Robinson receives postseason honors for the first time in his five-year career and performed well for the Golden Eagles in big spots this season. The native of Lisburn, Northern Ireland closed the fall campaign with a career-best 6-under 207 to help MU to a team title at the Dayton Flyer Invitational at NCR Country Club on Oct. 16-17. He helped the Golden Eagles fend off eight-time defending Big Ten champion Illinois for their lone victory of the year. Robinson ends his MU career 10th in scoring average (74.03 strokes) and rounds played (121).

Lafferty also earns the first postseason honor of his career on the heels of a top-10 finish at Riverton Pointe. He tied for ninth at the event with a 3-over 219 and was the event leader after 36 holes. The native of Downers Grove, Illinois led the Golden Eagles at two events this season in his home state, the Windon Memorial Classic on Sept. 25-26 at Sundset Ridge Golf Club in Northfield and the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate on April 20-21 at Atkins Golf Club in Urbana. Lafferty concludes his career ninth all-time at MU in scoring average (73.79 strokes).

Graduate student Bhoom Sima-Aree led MU and the BIG EAST in both scoring average (71.73) and strokes to par (-0.07) in 2023-24 but did not qualify for postseason honors. He missed the entire spring season due to injury and competed in five events and 15 total rounds during the fall.

2023-24 BIG EAST Men's Golf Awards
BIG EAST Player of the Year
Max Lyons, Marquette

BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Bradley Sawka, Connecticut

All BIG EAST First Team
Max Lyons, Marquette
Wenliang Xie, Seton Hall
Tommy Dallahan, Connecticut
Shaun Campbell, Creighton
Josh Robinson, Marquette

All BIG EAST Second Team
Aiden Lafferty, Marquette
Grant Feldman, Creighton
Peicheng Chen, St. John's
Bradley Sawka, Connecticut
Will Horne, Butler

BIG EAST PLAYERS OF THE YEAR FROM MARQUETTE:
2023-24: Max Lyons
2021-22: Hunter Eichhorn
2020-21: Hunter Eichhorn
2018-19: Oliver Farrell
2017-18: Hunter Eichhorn
2014-15: Patrick Sanchez
2008-09: Mike Van Sickle

Keep up with the Marquette men's golf program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteMGolf) and Instagram (@MarquetteMGolf) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteMGolf).

Marquette University Athletics

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Aidan Lafferty

Max Lyons

Josh Robinson

Bhoom Sima-Aree

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