Neosho High School junior golfer Max Combs has built his game and mindset around a simple idea: follow the example set at home, then carve his own path on the course.

Combs said his biggest inspiration is his dad, who played college golf and set the standard Max now chases every day. “My dad definitely inspires me the most,” Combs said. “He played golf in college, and I would like to follow in his footsteps.” That influence shows up in how Combs approaches practice, competition and even the classroom. His favorite class is personal finance, taught by his golf coach, which lets him blend schoolwork with the sport he loves.

The junior spends most of his free time with a club in his hands, either “grinding on the range” or out on the course with friends. His favorite club is his putter, which he estimates he uses for about half his shots and believes has the most direct impact on his score. Recently, he has focused on sharpening his short game, working to gain better control and accuracy on approach shots and chips around the green.

That work has been translated into results. Combs’ best round this season came at the Horton Smith tournament, where he rolled in four birdies in his first seven holes and turned at under par. He said athletics have taught him how to manage stress, persevere through difficult situations and set goals, then work toward achieving them.

Combs’ favorite course is Payne’s Valley, a Tiger Woods design that mirrors the mentality he admires. “My favorite golfer is definitely Tiger Woods because of his dominance and the mindset that he brought to the game of golf,” Combs said. He models his own mental approach on Woods, striving to keep his emotions steady and refusing to let one bad hole derail an entire round.

For Combs, the best part of being a Neosho golfer is the team atmosphere, where everyone shares the same expectations and pushes each other to post the lowest score possible.