Exber, 58, won the prestigious Azalea Senior for the fourth straight year, then added another trophy in the Yeamans Hall Invitational, and finally scored a playoff victory in the important Stocker Cup in California against a field with many mid-ams 20 years younger. The Stocker Cup is a component of all three amateur ranking systems.

In August, Exber won the British Senior Amateur, surviving extremely difficult conditions at England's Ganton Golf Club in the final round. That followed a win at the George C. Thomas Invitational at Los Angeles Country Club in June.

"I have been playing well all year," said Exber in a phone interview with AmateurGolf.com. "The stars have really lined up for me since my win at the George C. Thomas."

Exber has settled into playing a regular schedule of senior tournaments, but he still likes to challenge himself against younger players. Most of those players immediately grasp his ability, but occasionally there is an outlier who just doesn't get it. Such a player was in the field at the Southwestern Amateur in June, where Exber finished a solid 12th against a mostly college field. (1-under for 72 holes after an opening 67) Referring to Exber's age, he said something along the lines of "what are you doing playing in this event?" Before a taken-aback Exber could answer, another player settled the score for him. "He's beating you," was the discussion- ending response.

It's not the kind of comment that the mild- mannered Brady Exber would come back with, but it certainly was appropriate. To learn more about Brady, including his investment in the Houston Astros baseball team, read our AmateurGolf.com Brady Exber player profile.

ABOUT THE SGA NATIONAL AMATEUR OF THE MONTH AWARD

Previous winners of the March-October National Am of the Month Award this year were Stanford’s Patrick Rodgers, Georgia Tech’s Ollie Schniederjans, NCAA championship medalist Cameron Wilson, Northeast Am winner Stewart Jolly, Southern Am champ M.J. Maguire, 16-year-old USGA Women’s Amateur champ Kristen Gillman and USGA Mid-Am champ Scott Harvey. The national selection panel consists of notable golf journalists, officials and coaches. The coveted award, now completing its 12th year, is one of many ways the SGA promotes and advances amateur golf, including its venerable Southern Amateur, the 109th annual slated next July at Old Waverly Club in Mississippi.

-- The Southern Golf Association contributed to this report