Brad Elder

Brad Elder, originally from Tulsa, grew up in Plano, Texas and began his amateur prowess by winning the 1994 5A Boys State Golf Tournament individual title and 1994 Western Junior Amateur. Elder then headed to The University of Texas where he earned All-America Honors in each of his four years, including twice being named to the first team. Elder won the 1995 Texas State Amateur.

Elder’s banner year as an amateur was in 1997. He racked up undefeated showings in both the Walker and Palmer Cups and won the 1997 Northeast Amateur. As a Longhorn that year, he was under par in 18 of 37 competitive rounds played.  Elder was awarded the Jack Nicklaus Award, given annually by the Golf Coaches Association of America to the golfer who excels throughout the course of the entire season, and was the Fred Haskins Award winner, presented annually by the Haskins Commission to honor the most outstanding collegiate golfer in the United States. It is college golf's equivalent to college football's Heisman Trophy. He finished his collegiate career as the nation's No. 1 amateur according to Golfweek/Titleist amateur rankings.