The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men’s Golf’s Bennett, Maas named finalists for 2025 Gary Player Award
06.17.2025 | Men's Golf
Daniel Bennett and Christiaan Maas are two of the five finalists for the annual award that honors the top international collegiate golfer.
NORMAN, Okla. — University of Texas Men's Golf freshman Daniel Bennett and junior Christiaan Maas have been selected as finalists for the 2025 Gary Player International Golfer of the Year Award presented by FlightScope, the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) announced Tuesday. Bennett and Maas are two of the five finalists for the prestigious award that is given to the most outstanding collegiate golfer from outside the United States.
In addition to Bennett and Maas, the five finalists for the 2025 Gary Player Award for Division I include Josele Ballester (Arizona State/Spain), Algot Kleen (LSU/Sweden) and Phichaksn Maichon (Texas A&M/Thailand). Both Bennett and Maas are from South Africa. The Gary Player Award is selected by GCAA International member coaches with representation from around the world.
Bennett previously was named the recipient of the 2025 Division I Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award by StrackaLine, honoring the National Freshman of the Year in men's collegiate golf. He also was a first-team All-America selection by PING/GCAA and Golfweek and was recognized as the SEC Freshman of the Year in addition to earning First Team All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman Team mention. Bennett concluded the season with a team-best 70.00 scoring average and registered a pair of individual runner-up finishes, four top-three showings, five top-10 finishes and placed in the top-16 in eight of his 11 stroke-play events. The SEC Men's Freshman of the Week (April 16), 24 of his 34 rounds this year were par or better, including 15 rounds in the 60s.
Maas was one of five finalists for the Division I Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award presented by Workday and one of 10 finalists for the Fred Haskins Award presented by Stifel. He was previously selected as a second-team All-America selection by PING/GCAA and third-team All-America pick by Golfweek. A First Team All-SEC selection and one of 10 semifinalists for the Ben Hogan Award, Maas registered a 70.40 stroke average and recorded one individual victory, five top-five and eight top-10 finishes in his 13 stroke-play appearances this season. The SEC Men's Co-Golfer of the Week (March 19), 29 of his 40 rounds this year were par or better, including 18 rounds in the 60s. He earned his second career collegiate win at the Pauma Valley Invitational (March 17-18) with a 9-under 204 (68-70-66).
Considered one of golf's "Big Three" along with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player has left an everlasting impact on the game by being a worldwide ambassador, philanthropist and golf course designer. One of only six golfers to win the career grand slam, Player's outstanding career has included 165 professional wins on six continents over seven decades.
Texas completed the 2024-25 season with a run to the Match Play quarterfinals at the 2025 NCAA Championships at Omni La Costa (Carlsbad, Calif.). The Longhorns claimed five team titles and 10 top-three finishes during its 13 stroke-play events of the 2024-25 season. With its tie for fifth in this year's national championship, Texas recorded its 11th top-five finish at the NCAA Championship under the direction of 28th-year head coach John Fields.
Players Mentioned
