The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 3 Men’s Golf’s Maas named finalist for Jack Nicklaus Award
05.28.2026 | Men's Golf
Maas is one of five individuals in contention for annual award that honors the Division I National Player of the Year.
NORMAN, Okla. — University of Texas Men's Golf senior Christiaan Maas has been named one of five finalists for the 2026 NCAA Division I Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award presented by Workday, the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) announced Thursday. This marks the second straight year that Maas has been named as one of the five finalists for the prestigious honor.
In addition to Maas, the four other finalists include Ben James (Virginia), William Jennings (Alabama), Jackson Koivun (Auburn) and Preston Stout (Oklahoma State). The winner will be announced by Nicklaus on Sunday, June 7 during his annual press conference at The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday.
The Jack Nicklaus Award was created in 1988 and is now presented by the National Player of the Year in NCAA Divisions I, II and III, as well as NAIA and NJCAA. Texas has had three former players earn the Nicklaus Award, including Bob Estes (1988), Justin Leonard (1994) and Brad Elder (1997).
Maas, a three-time All-American at Texas, is No. 4 in the latest World Amateur Golf Ranking (May 27) and No. 2 in the latest PGA TOUR University Class of 2026 rankings (May 27). He earned first-team All-SEC honors and was a three-time SEC Golfer of the Week selection this year (Oct. 1, Oct. 15 and March 4). Maas is also one of 10 finalists for the Fred Haskins Award and was one of 10 semifinalists for the Ben Hogan Award.
Maas has played in 12 of UT's first 13 events this season and sports a team-best 69.44 stroke average through 36 rounds while recording one victory and a total of eight top-eight individual finishes. Twenty-seven (27) of his 36 rounds this year have been par or better, including 18 rounds in the 60s.
Maas claimed individual medalist honors by two strokes against an elite field at the Southern Highlands Collegiate (March 1-3) with a 10-under 206 (70-68-68). He earned low amateur honors and tied for 10th at the DP World Tour's Hero Dubai Desert Classic (Jan. 22-25) with a 72-hole score of 6-under 282 (70-71-69-72). Maas also won the individual title by 10 strokes and paired with teammate Daniel Bennett to pace Team South Africa to the team crown at the 2025 World Amateur Team Championships (Oct. 8-11) in Singapore.
2026 NCAA Division I Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award Finalists (listed alphabetically)
|
Player |
School |
|
Ben James |
Virginia |
|
William Jennings |
Alabama |
|
Jackson Koivun |
Auburn |
|
TEXAS |
|
|
Preston Stout |
Oklahoma State |
