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.

Fred 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.

Ben 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.

Jack 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.

Women’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.

Inkster 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.