1984 BYU Hall of Fame

Beginnings are often obscured in the sands of time. With a program as successful as BYU golf, it is hard to remember when you were still looking for direction. However, for Coach Karl Tucker remembering the beginning was easy-Mike Taylor.

"Mike was the first player I saw who looked like he could lead us out of the wilderness," Coach Tucker said. Mike was All-WAC for four years to accompany his All-American status in 1966. In 1968 he was the medalist in the WAC championship and he was a regular on the team that won the first WAC golf championship (1966). Add to that the fact that he won the Mississippi State Amateur Championship 11 times and was twice a quarterfinalist in he U.S. Amateur, and you have a sterling example of what BYU golf has become.

Winning wasn't all there was for Mike. "Mike had the quality of keeping everybody loose," according to Coach Tucker. "There has never been a more popular WAC champion. Even his opponents were happy to see him win."

Mike played for two years with a bone spur on his foot, which never allowed him to play without pain.

• Mississippi State amateur champion
• Placed third in WAC championships
• Finished first at the Beehive Invitational

• Placed first in the Mississippi State Amateur
• Finished second in the WAC
• Placed second at the Pikes Peak Intercollegiate
• Finished sixth in the NCAA
• Named most valuable player (BYU)
• Named Honorable Mention All-American