Joshua McCarthy has been a mainstay in the Pepperdine men's golf program ever since stepping onto campus. The De La Salle High School graduate won All-WCC first team honors three times, is one of the few Waves to go to the NCAA Tournament three times and is 20 rounds away from breaking head coach Michael Beard's record of 162 rounds played in a Pepperdine career. McCarthy has been an integral part of the squad during Pepperdine's rise to become the #1 team in the nation. We caught up with McCarthy after day one of the 109th California Amateur Championships to talk about the offseason, his career and the decision to return to Pepperdine for his fifth year:
 
Q: You decided to use your fifth season of eligibility to return to Pepperdine. How did that process go, and what factors were you considering leading up to making the decision?
 
A: It was a shock with the season ending, but once I realized there was an opportunity to come back, I was really excited. Being at Pepperdine is awesome, and being part of the school and the community is pretty exceptional. Having that opportunity to come back, I was pretty excited to make it happen.
 
It makes a lot of sense to me, as far as golf goes. A lot of the professional tournaments coming out of school weren't happening this year due to COVID-19. That, combined with the opportunity to pursue a double-major and be a part of the team for a championship run, persuaded me to stay.
 
Q: What has your relationship with head coach Michael Beard been like throughout the past few years, and what have you learned from him that has impacted you throughout your career?
 
A: I'm very close with Coach Beard. I remember the first time we met was at a junior tournament when he was recruiting me at the time. He's a special coach — obviously, he won National Coach of the Year, so that speaks for itself. He's really helped me with my short game, which was one thing that he mentioned to me coming into Pepperdine that he could help me improve in — especially around the greens, since he's a very good wedge player himself. Also, he really cares about his players.
 
Obviously, results aren't everything, but I'm persuaded that he thinks about his players about more than just what scores they put up. He's a coach for your golf game, but he's a coach for your whole person as well. You can't say that about a lot of people, but you can certainly say that about Michael Beard.
 
Q: Along similar lines, what are some of the benefits to playing for a Pepperdine alum like Michael Beard, and what has he taught you about the Pepperdine student-athlete experience?
 
A: It definitely helps knowing his vision for the team. He sees Pepperdine, which won the national championship back in 1997, and has a vision for what Pepperdine golf can be in order to get us back on top. You can't really get that from a coach who didn't attend Pepperdine — or at least not in the way that you can get it from Coach Beard. He's had a lot of the same experience and he's lived the Pepperdine experience.
 
Q: You and your recruiting class have been integral parts in making Coach Beard's vision for Pepperdine golf happen. How does it feel to be part of a recruiting class that has grown along with the program, and what does that mean to you going into your fifth year?
 
A: It means a lot to have players like myself, Clay Feagler, Sahith Theegala — and guys before us like Frederick Wedel and Robbie Geibel — as the program slowly starts turning around. It's been neat to see where we were during our freshman year, compared to where we are with our attitude and higher expectations. And it's been a good challenge; the team has gotten more competitive. I feel honored to be part of that next wave of guys who help us get to the top.
 
Q: Given all that you've accomplished in your career thus far, is there a standout memory that will be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about your collegiate career?
 
A: I would say going to the NCAA Tournament as a team during my freshman and junior year. I don't think there's anything more special: Everyone's watching as you finish out the last hole, or hearing your school's fight song being played. Those memories are pretty awesome, and hopefully we'll have more memories to create. We're still waiting for that "hurrah" moment at the end.
 
Q: Of course, the team wants to capitalize on last year's #1 ranking and win a national championship, but what are your personal goals for the upcoming season?
 
A: This year, they introduced a PGA TOUR University ranking where the top 15 graduating seniors are eligible for status on one of the professional tours. For me, if I can get into that top 15, that would be a good goal.
 
Q: You've played in a couple of tournaments over the past few weeks, most recently at this week's California Amateur alongside teammates Joey Vrzich, Dylan Menante and incoming freshman Caden Fioroni. How does it feel to be playing again?
 
A: I'm grateful to be playing. It's what you practice for. During the few months of quarantine where everything was shut down, when you're visualizing tournaments and competing, this is what you hope for. I'm grateful for the opportunity to compete, especially alongside my teammates just to feel a little bit more normal again.