Men’s Collegiate Golf Awards
The men’s awards season peaks in late May and early June, often aligning with NCAA Championship week and the transition into summer amateur golf.
Haskins Award (Men’s Player of the Year)
Awarded: Late May
Often referred to as the “Heisman Trophy of college golf,” the Fred Haskins Award recognizes the most outstanding men’s NCAA Division I golfer each season. The award is administered by the Haskins Foundation, and what makes it especially meaningful is its voting body: college golfers, coaches, sports information directors, past winners, and media all play a role in selecting the recipient.
The Haskins has become one of the defining honors of the collegiate game — a signal that a player didn’t just win tournaments, but owned the entire season.
Last 5 Haskins Award Champions2025: David Ford — North Carolina2024: Jackson Koivun — Auburn2023: Ludvig Åberg — Texas Tech2022: Chris Gotterup — Oklahoma2021: John Pak — Florida StateBen Hogan Award (Top Male Collegiate Golfer)
Awarded: Mid-to-Late May
The Ben Hogan Award is another heavyweight honor, but with a slightly broader lens. Rather than focusing strictly on NCAA results, the Hogan Award recognizes the top male collegiate golfer based on performance across collegiate competition and elite amateur and professional events over the previous 12 months.
Presented at a formal dinner at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth — famously known as “Hogan’s Alley” — the award carries a historic prestige and often highlights players already making an impact beyond campus golf. If the Haskins is the season’s MVP, the Hogan is often the award that says: this player is ready for the next level.
Last 5 Ben Hogan Award Champions2025: Luke Clanton — Florida State2024: Jackson Koivun — Auburn2023: Ludvig Åberg — Texas Tech2022: Ludvig Åberg — Texas Tech2021: John Pak — Florida StateJack Nicklaus Award (National Player of the Year Across Divisions)
Awarded: Early June
While most major awards focus on NCAA Division I, the Jack Nicklaus Award expands the spotlight. Presented by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), the Nicklaus Award honors national players of the year across multiple divisions: NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, and NJCAA.
Winners are typically announced during Memorial Tournament week on the PGA TOUR, tying collegiate excellence directly into the professional golf calendar. It’s one of the sport’s most inclusive awards — recognizing greatness at every level of college golf, not just the biggest programs.
Last 5 Jack Nicklaus Award Champions (D1 winners)2025: David Ford — North Carolina2024: Jackson Koivun — Auburn2023: Ludvig Åberg — Texas Tech2022: Chris Gotterup — Oklahoma2021: John Pak — Florida StateWomen’s Collegiate Golf Awards
On the women’s side, the award calendar mirrors the NCAA postseason in May, with additional honors extending into the summer.
ANNIKA Award (Women’s Player of the Year)
Awarded: Mid-to-Late May
The ANNIKA Award, presented in partnership with the Haskins Foundation and named for Annika Sörenstam, honors the top women’s NCAA Division I collegiate golfer each season. Like the Haskins on the men’s side, it represents the clearest “Player of the Year” crown in women’s college golf.
The award is typically presented during the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship, making it one of the marquee moments of the postseason. Winning the ANNIKA Award doesn’t just reflect a hot stretch — it signals a full year of dominance against the deepest fields in the women’s amateur game.
Last 5 ANNIKA Award Champions2025: Mirabel Ting — Florida State2024: Ingrid Lindblad — LSU2023: Rose Zhang — Stanford2022: Rose Zhang — Stanford2021: Rachel Heck — StanfordInkster Award (Top Final-Year Women’s Collegiate Golfer)
Awarded: Late May
The Inkster Award, presented by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA), is unique in one key way: it honors the top women’s collegiate golfer in her final year of NCAA eligibility.
That distinction makes it a legacy award — recognizing not only performance, but the culmination of a college career. Announced during Memorial Tournament week, the Inkster often highlights players who have led their programs for multiple seasons and are finishing their careers at the top of the sport. It’s one of the most meaningful “career capstone” awards in college golf.
Last 5 Inkster Award Champions (D1 winners)2025: Carolina Lopez-Chacarra — Wake Forest2024: Ingrid Lindblad — LSU2023: Jenny Bae — Georgia2022: Natasha Andrea Oon — San Jose State2021: Jaravee Boonchant — DukeDinah Shore Trophy Award (Academic + Athletic Excellence)
Awarded: Mid-Summer (Often July)
Not every major award is based purely on scoring averages and tournament wins. The Dinah Shore Trophy Award recognizes a women’s collegiate golfer who excels both academically and athletically, with criteria that includes academic performance, strong competitive participation, and demonstrated leadership and community involvement.
Announced later in the summer, the Dinah Shore Trophy celebrates the true student-athlete — someone thriving in every area of college life. In a sport where balance and discipline matter as much as talent, it’s one of the most well-rounded honors in amateur golf.
Last 5 Dinah Shore Trophy Champions2025: Emma Bunch — New Mexico State2024: Celina Sattelkau — Vanderbilt2023: Ami Gianchandani — Yale2022: Aline Krauter — Stanford2021: Ivana Shah — AkronThe Big Picture: Why These Awards Matter
Collegiate golf is one of the strongest proving grounds in the sport — and these awards help define each season’s standouts. Some, like the Haskins and ANNIKA, crown the best player of the year. Others, like the Hogan and Nicklaus, reflect broader excellence and national recognition.
And awards like the Inkster and Dinah Shore Trophy remind us that college golf is about more than trophies — it’s about careers, character, and legacy. As the NCAA Championships wrap each spring, these honors provide a roadmap to the players who will shape the next era of amateur and professional golf.