There’s no question who the top player on the Mingus golf team is. Senior Noah Daher has the lowest scoring average for the Marauders and is regarded as one of the top high school players in Northern Arizona, having already essentially wrapped up a second straight trip to the state tournament.
In addition to being Mingus’ best player, he’s also the team captain.
“He’s a good golfer and a good guy in general,” junior teammate Austin Kunze said. “He’s outgoing, funny and can put a smile on anyone’s face. If you’re having a bad day, he can make you laugh and make your day better. He’s just a really good role model to look up to.”
Coach Craig Mai agreed with that notion, adding that Daher generally keeps the team loose on long road trips. Mai also noted the work ethic of Daher on the course.
“He’s what I like to call a golf rat, like a gym rat,” Mai said. “He is always working on his game, always hitting balls, chipping and putting. Offseason, weekends, he is always out here. Other kids see, hey, if you want to be an outstanding golfer, this is the kind of work ethic that you need to have.”
Daher’s impact at Mingus extends beyond the golf team. He also plays on the school’s soccer team. Outside of sports, Daher is a 4.0 student. He is also a part of Mingus’ Captain’s Club.
“We meet and try to promote the sport we are a captain of and help people fit in, into high school,” Daher said. “Like, let’s say if they’re feeling lonely at lunch, we’ll go sit next to them. Just stuff to make it a more friendly environment. Be a leader on campus, on the course, on the field. Just set a good example.”
After he graduates, Daher hopes to continue playing golf in college and has already drawn interest from a number of schools.
Those include Arizona Christ-ian University. Cal Lutheran, Whitier College, Marymount California University and Sonoma State in California, as well as Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore.
“I’m looking to hopefully go D-2, but I’m just trying to play where the weather is nice and the academics are pretty rigorous as well so I get a good academic feel,” Daher said,
While plenty of people have helped Daher along the way, he gave credit to two people who have aided his golf career. One is his friend, Justin Tanner, who graduated from Mingus a year ago. When Daher first played on the team as a freshman, he didn’t have a car. Tanner always helped get him around. Daher’s grandfather, Emile Daher, was another influence on Noah, as he was the only member of Noah’s family who played golf before he began.
Ultimately, the people who know Daher best define his work ethic as his most definitive trait. How far Daher goes in golf of course remains to be seen. But if it comes down to putting the work in, Daher and those around him like his chances.
“Everyone has the potential,” teammate and friend Treyson Peters said of Daher. “But he puts in so much work and makes the most of his potential.”
“I’m an example of hard work. The only reason I have what I have is because of the work I put in, in the offseason. I want people to know that you’ve got to put in the extra hours to get what you want … I’m trying to compete with these people from Phoenix and these bigger schools. I’m from Cottonwood. I’m just trying to put my name out there and represent Mingus and high school golf and just make a name for myself.”
Michael Dixon can be reached at 282-7795 ext 131 or email to mdixon@larsonnewspapers.com
