Brady McHenry is The Star's Boys Golfer of the Year for 2025

Brady McHenry was the leader in the clubhouse.

After shooting a 7-under-par 67, the Buena High senior was on the cusp of winning the CIF-SCGA SoCal boys golf regional championship May 29 at Los Serranos Golf Club in Chino Hills.

Until another golfer birdied his final hole, forcing McHenry out onto the course again for a playoff.

Buena coach Paul Engel was curious about how his senior would respond.

“It was very dramatic,” Engel said. “For 15 minutes, he had the lead. Would he be disappointed? How would that carry over to the playoff?”

McHenry answered any questions by ripping an iron down the fairway, sticking an approach shot within seven feet of the cup and sinking the putt to win the regional championship.

“It didn’t phase him at all,” Engel said. “He wanted to win it. And he did it with a great round on an extremely tough course.”

The only local to reach the CIF-State championships earlier this month at Poppy Hills Golf Course, the Texas Tech commit combined athleticism, competitiveness and teamwork to earn The Star’s Boys Golfer of the Year award for 2025.

“It means a lot,” McHenry said. “To win the SoCal event was a good feeling. There’s so many good players. The competition here is really, really strong.

“I made it a goal of the season to make state. To play at Poppy Hills was fun. I was really excited about that.”

McHenry showed his competitive fire after opening his round at state with a bogey and a triple bogey.

“I got off to a really slow start,” McHenry said. “So I’m just a little bummed. … I fought hard through the last 16 holes and tried to make the best out of it.”

He was able to shoot an even par through the final 16 holes to finish tied for 35th.

“I didn’t play my best,” McHenry said. “But it was just a good experience. … Poppy Hills is a great, great course. I enjoyed it.”

McHenry was the Channel League Most Valuable Player after winning the league’s individual championship with an 11-under 133 over 36 holes.

“He almost won every tournament that we entered as an individual,” Engel said. “He’s very competitive. He goes into these things wanting to win.

“You can tell he’s a driven young man who wants to perform and do well out there.”

Throughout his senior season, McHenry was pushed by his teammates, including senior Adam Anderson and freshman Brandon Anderson.

Brandon Anderson won the CIF-Southern Section Northern Regional title on May 15 at Los Robles Greens.

“This was really like a dream season,” Engel said. “Not just because of the play on the course that Brady, Adam, Brandon and some of the other guys had. They’re just a great group of kids — hard workers with great attitudes. They all practice for hours on their own and strive to get better.”

McHenry’s rivalry with fellow senior Adam Anderson was described as “healthy.”

“One of the neat things was seeing Brady and Adam play together,” Engel said. “They’re good friends. They wanted to compete and beat each other, but it was a very friendly competition. They’re healthy teammates. They root for one another. They’ll push each other in that regard. They pushed each other to be better.”

Said McHenry of his teammates, “They’re just great players, great friends and great people. It’s been fun as team. … We all had a great season.”

McHenry was so hot at Los Serranos, he forgot to check the leaderboard.

“I really didn’t know where I stood,” he said.

When he finally looked up before his final hole of the regional championship, he was just one stroke off the lead.

“I was hitting the ball really well,” McHenry said. “I putted exceptionally well. My putter got real hot, so I made a bunch of birdies.”

He thought he needed one more birdie to force a playoff, so he gave a little fist pump when he drained the 15-foot putt to move to 7 under.

“It was thrilling to see him play so well,” Engel said.

McHenry continued his strong play this past weekend, when he reached the Round of 16 at the California Amateur Championship at Granite Bay Golf Club. He will compete in the SCGA Amateur Championship later this month at Torrey Pines Golf Club.

Engel remembers McHenry as an athletically gifted freshman.

“But he’s steadily improved since then,” Engel said. “It’s due to his strong work ethic. He’s a very athletic kid, but he also has an amazing work ethic. He’s self-motivated and driven. I see him as the total package.”

The shortstop for his Montalvo Little League team, McHenry primarily played baseball when he was younger. He picked up a golf club when he was 10 and eventually put down the bat and glove.

“I kind of just liked the individual aspect of golf,” McHenry said. “Playing your own game, just worried about yourself. Something about hitting the golf ball I just loved a little bit more.”

He transformed his game during the pandemic.

“When COVID happened, I really started to grind golf,” McHenry said. “My handicap dropped. I started playing tournaments and really started to excel.”

He’ll continue that climb next at Texas Tech.

“When I visited, I really liked the coaches,” McHenry said. “We had a good connection. They have a great golf course and practice facility. And there was something about the town of Lubbock that I just liked.”

Joe Curley is a staff writer for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcspreps on Twitter/X, Instagram/Threads, Facebook and Bluesky.

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