The 2019-20 college golf season was unique to say the least.
The coronavirus pandemic forced the NCAA to cancel all spring and winter championships, making what might’ve been a season to remember one we’ll never forget, for all the wrong reasons.
Despite the lack of an adequate finale, there is some good news for college golfers. The NCAA granted another year of eligibility to all spring athletes, and despite the shortened season the Haskins Award Presented by Stifel is still being given to the player of the year in college men’s golf, as selected by college golfers, coaches and members of the college golf media. Voting runs April 7-21 on the award’s website with the winner earning an exemption to the 2020 Military Tribute at the Greenbrier.
Players are listed alphabetically.
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Golfweek Men’s Rankings: Team | Individual
John Augenstein, Vanderbilt
Golfweek/Sagarin Ranking: 7
Golfstat Ranking: 2
Scoring Average: 69.76
After finishing runner-up at the 2019 U.S. Amateur, Augenstein entered his senior year with high expectations. He delivered with two top-three finishes to start the season at the Nike Golf Collegiate and Crooked Stick Collegiate and ended his college career with a win at the Desert Mountain Intercollegiate.
John Axelsen, Florida
Golfweek/Sagarin Ranking: 8
Golfstat Ranking: 7
Scoring Average: 70.22
Axelsen had five top ten finishes, including three in the top five, and led the Gators with 12 rounds and five tournaments at even/under par.
Ricky Castillo, Florida
Golfweek/Sagarin Ranking: 2
Golfstat Ranking: 9
Scoring Average: 70.08
The freshman had an average fall but rebounded with an impressive spring, finishing the season with consecutive wins at the Sea Best and Gators Invite and a T-6 at the loaded Southern Highlands.
Cooper Dossey, Baylor
Golfweek/Sagarin Ranking: 9
Golfstat Ranking: 4
Scoring Average: 70.35
Dossey won the Fighting Illini Invitational and had just one event where he finished outside the top 10. He was sixth in the nation in par-3 scoring (2.97).
Peter Kuest, BYU
Golfweek/Sagarin Ranking: 10
Golfstat Ranking: 18
Scoring Average: 69.73
Kuest earned six top-five finishes, including three wins. He finished fourth in the country in par-5 scoring (4.46) and first in eagles (11) and birdies (106).
William Mouw, Pepperdine
Golfweek/Sagarin Ranking: 15
Golfstat Ranking: 10
Scoring Average: 70.35
The freshman earned five top-10 finishes and started the spring with a win at the Amer Ari. He was second in the nation in birdies with 103.
John Pak, Florida State
Golfweek/Sagarin Ranking: 4
Golfstat Ranking: 17
Scoring Average: 69.79
The canceled season derailed what could have been a special spring for Pak, who got off to a strong start with consecutive wins at the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate and Seminole Intercollegiate.
Garett Reband, Oklahoma
Golfweek/Sagarin Ranking: 3
Golfstat Ranking: 3
Scoring Average: 69.39
Mr. Consistent for the Sooners, Reband played in six events and only finished outside the top 10 once, a T-13 at the Southern Highlands Collegiate, one of the most competitive fields in golf. He tied for fourth in the nation in scoring average (69.39).
Sahith Theegala, Pepperdine
Golfweek/Sagarin Ranking: 1
Golfstat Ranking: 1
Scoring Average: 69.04
Sahith was one of the most dominant players all year, finishing in the top 10 in six of eight events, including wins at the Alister MacKenzie and Southwestern. He finished fourth in the nation in birdies (101).
Davis Thompson, Georgia
Golfweek/Sagarin Ranking: 17
Golfstat Ranking: 6
Scoring Average: 69.95
Thompson had a strong junior season brewing with a win at the Jim Rivers Invitational in the fall and four top-10 finishes.
