FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Men's golfer Larkin Gross has been named Methodist University's 2017-18 recipient of the Mason Sykes Cup as announced on Thursday. 
 
The award, named for former MU soccer coach Mason Sykes, has been given annually to the University's top student-athlete since 1986. Chosen in a vote of the department's coaches, the winner must display outstanding athletic achievement and possess a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.
 
Gross, a rising senior from Center Cross, Va., adds one more award to what was an outstanding junior season. The 2018 winner of the USA South Don Scalf award, given the top male and female student-athletes in the conference, Gross finished the season ranked No. 6 nationally in the Golfstat Individual Rankings. The First Team All-USA South and PING All-Region selection had a stroke average of 72.7, an adjusted scoring average of 72.9 and his 11 rounds of par or better led the team.  
 
Gross posted nine top-20 finishes and four top-five finishes on the season. At the NCAA Championships, he placed tied for 12th with a four-day total of 291 (+3) in helping lead the Monarchs to their 12th NCAA Division III National Championship. He was named a Golf Coaches Association of America Second Team All-American in June, one of four Monarchs to be so honored. 
 
The Mason Sykes Cup will be formally presented in a ceremony at Fall Convocation.
 
 
All-Time Mason Sykes Cup Winners
1986 - Doug Garner, baseball
1987 - Karen Grant, women's track and field
1988 - Jansen Evans, baseball
1989 - Mike Brewington, baseball
1990 - John McCullough, men's golf
1991 - Anne Thorpe, women's soccer & Jay Kirkpatrick, baseball
1992 - Mike Rohr, baseball
1993 - Ryan Jenkins, men's golf
1994 - Anne Uleman, women's basketball, softball
1995 - Kelly Cap, women's golf
1996 - Mike Adamson, men's golf
1997 - Jason Childers, men's basketball
1998 - Tracey Gage, women's golf
1999 - Tracey Gage, women's golf
2000 - Heather Hugus, softball
2001 - Elena Blanina, women's tennis
2002 - Elena Blanina, women's tennis
2003 - Michelle Meadows, women's golf
2004 - Adam Horton, men's golf
2005 - Charlotte Williams, women's golf
2006 - Charlotte Williams, women's golf
2007 - Katie Dick, women's golf
2008 - Susan Martin, women's golf
2009 - Susan Martin, women's golf
2010 - Susan Martin, women's golf
2011 - Paige Caldwell, women's golf
2012 - Ashlynn Chavis, women's track and field
2013 - Mike Wesko, men's golf
2014 - Max Reber, football
2015 - Max Reber, football
2016 - Eirik Nordseth, men's soccer
2017 - Jake Smerka, men's lacrosse
2018 – Larkin Gross, men's golf