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35 Players Selected to 2026 Ben Hogan Award Watch List

Posted on January 29, 2026

FORT WORTH, Texas (Jan. 28, 2026) – Thirty-five of the nation’s most accomplished players across college golf have been named to the 2026 watch list for the ultimate honor awarded to an amateur and collegiate golfer, the Ben Hogan Award presented by Baird.

The 2026 Ben Hogan Award watch list, as selected by the award’s subcommittee, includes 14 seniors, 17 juniors and four sophomores. In addition, golfers from 11 different foreign countries as well as the United States are represented. Six schools have multiple golfers on the watch list, led by Arizona State, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech, with three.

Several players have past ties to the award, including Auburn’s Jackson Koivun, the 2024 Ben Hogan Award recipient and 2025 finalist, and Virginia’s Ben James, a two-time semifinalist (2024, 2025). In addition, Christiaan Maas and Tommy Morrison of Texas were semifinalists a year ago. In all, 13 members of last year’s watch list are repeats on this year’s list.

This year’s 10 semifinalists, which could include individuals not on the watch list, will be unveiled Thursday, April 16. That group will be pared down to three finalists on Tuesday, May 12. The finalists will attend a black-tie dinner on Memorial Day (Monday, May 25) at the TCU Legends Club in Fort Worth, Texas, where the winner will be crowned.

The Ben Hogan Award annually awards the top men’s NCAA Division I, II or III, NAIA or NJCAA college golfer based on results from all collegiate, amateur and professional events played over the previous 12 months. An esteemed international selection committee, comprised of 40 leaders in collegiate, amateur and professional golf, votes during each stage of the process.

The Ben Hogan Award has honored the outstanding amateur collegiate golfer at Colonial Country Club since 2002. This year marks the 25th anniversary in Fort Worth. The original Ben Hogan Trophy, which utilized a different set of criteria, was issued by the Friends of Golf (FOG) at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, Calif., beginning in 1990.

Fort Worth Colonial Charities (FWCC), the Friends of Golf (FOG) and the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) annually present the award. Since 2002, the organization has donated more than $1.3 million to charitable endeavors, providing scholarship grants to colleges as well as gifts to golf programs and organizations in need.

Past recipients are Ludvig Aberg (‘22, ‘23), Ricky Barnes (‘03), Patrick Cantlay (‘12), Luke Clanton (’25), Matt Every (‘06), Rickie Fowler (‘08), Doug Ghim (‘18), Bill Haas (‘04), Viktor Hovland (‘19), Chris Kirk (‘07), Jackson Koivun (’24), Hunter Mahan (‘03), Maverick McNealy (‘17), Ryan Moore (‘05), John Pak (‘21), Jon Rahm (‘15, ‘16), Patrick Rodgers (‘14), Kyle Stanley (‘09), Nick Taylor (‘10), Sahith Theegala (‘20), D.J. Trahan (‘02), Peter Uihlein (‘11) and Chris Williams (‘13).

Over the years, recipients of the Ben Hogan Award have combined to accumulate 70 PGA TOUR wins and have amassed more than $495 million in prize money on the PGA TOUR. Additionally, the group has combined to make 21 Ryder Cup appearances and play in 15 Presidents Cups.

For more information on the Ben Hogan Award, visit TheBenHoganAward.org and follow @BenHoganAward on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

2026 Ben Hogan Award Watch List Candidates
Daniel Bennett, Texas, So., Pretoria, South Africa
Adam Bresnu, Texas Tech, Jr., Rabat, Morocco
Mahanth Chirravuri, Pepperdine, Sr., Chandler, Ariz.
John Daly II, Arkansas, Sr., Clearwater, Fla.
Ethan Fang, Oklahoma State, Jr., Plano, Texas
Josiah Gilbert, Auburn, Jr., Millbrook, Ala.
Connor Graham, Texas Tech, So., Blairgowrie, Scotland
Max Herendeen, Illinois, Jr., Bellevue, Wash.
Filip Jakubcik, Arizona, Sr., Holesov, Czech Republic
Ben James, Virginia, Sr., Milford, Conn.
William Jennings, Alabama, So., Greenville, S.C.
Bryan Kim, Duke, Jr., Brookeville, Md.
Jackson Koivun, Auburn, Jr., Chapel Hill, N.C.
Fifa Laopakdee, Arizona State, Jr., Rayong, Thailand
Bryan Lee, Virginia, Sr., Fairfax, Va.
Eric Lee, Oklahoma State, Jr., Fullerton, Calif.
Christiaan Maas, Texas, Sr., Pretoria, South Africa
Jonathan McEwen, Washington and Lee, Jr., Portsmouth, Va.
Michael Mjaaseth, Arizona State, Sr., Oslo, Norway
Jacob Modleski, Notre Dame, Jr., Noblesville, Ind.
Tommy Morrison, Texas, Sr., Dallas, Texas
Gabriel Palacios, Utah, Jr., Guatemala City, Guatemala
Luke Poulter, Florida, Jr., Orlando, Fla.
Niall Sheils Donegan, North Carolina, Jr., Mill Valley, Calif.
Will Sides, SMU, Sr., Tulsa, Okla.
Lance Simpson, Tennessee, Sr., Knoxville, Tenn.
Preston Stout, Oklahoma State, Jr., Richardson, Texas
Jase Summy, Oklahoma, Sr., Keller, Texas
Daniel Svard, Northwestern, Sr., Jarfalla, Sweden
Árni Sveinsson, LSU, So., Garðabær, Iceland
Cameron Tankersley, Ole Miss, Sr., Dickson, Tenn.
Tyler Weaver, Florida State, Jr., Newmarket, England
Tim Wiedemeyer, Texas Tech, Jr., Olching, Germany
Connor Williams, Arizona State, Jr., Escondido, Calif.
Wells Williams, Vanderbilt, Sr., West Point, Miss.

Former Recipient Mahan Named to Ben Hogan Award Executive Committee

Posted on January 27, 2026

in Special Announcements

FORT WORTH, Texas (Jan. 27, 2026) – Hunter Mahan, the 2003 Ben Hogan Award recipient as a junior at Oklahoma State, has accepted an invitation to become a Ben Hogan Award Executive Committee Member for a two-year term.

“We are honored to have Hunter join our committee in our 25th anniversary year in Fort Worth,” Ben Hogan Award Chair Shannon Tabor said. “He is a tremendous ambassador for the sport of golf and for our award specifically. It is very exciting to bring Hunter’s knowledge, perspective and passion on board as we honor our great history and look to the future.”

Mahan’s 2002-03 award-winning season included a runner-up finish at the 2002 U.S. Amateur, a share of 28th place at the 2003 Masters Tournament and three collegiate victories, highlighted by a record-setting win at the Big 12 Championships.

During his PGA TOUR career, the native of McKinney, Texas, collected six victories, placed among the top 10 in all four major tournaments and reached as high as No. 4 on the Official World Golf Rankings. Additionally, Mahan was the 2011 FedExCup runner up, played on the United States Ryder Cup three times (2008, 2010, 2014) and was a four-time U.S. Presidents Cup team member (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013).

The Ben Hogan Award has honored the outstanding amateur collegiate golfer at Colonial Country Club since 2002. Prior to its move to Fort Worth, the original Ben Hogan Trophy was issued by Friends of Golf at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, Calif., beginning in 1990.

Over the years, recipients of the Ben Hogan Award have combined to accumulate 70 PGA TOUR wins and amass more than $495 million in prize money on the tour. Past recipients are Ludvig Aberg (‘22, ‘23), Ricky Barnes (‘03), Patrick Cantlay (‘12), Luke Clanton (’25), Matt Every (‘06), Rickie Fowler (‘08), Doug Ghim (‘18), Bill Haas (‘04), Viktor Hovland (‘19), Chris Kirk (‘07), Jackson Koivun (’24), Hunter Mahan (‘03), Maverick McNealy (‘17), Ryan Moore (‘05), John Pak (‘21), Jon Rahm (‘15, ‘16), Patrick Rodgers (‘14), Kyle Stanley (‘09), Nick Taylor (‘10), Sahith Theegala (‘20), D.J. Trahan (‘02), Peter Uihlein (‘11) and Chris Williams (‘13).

This year’s dinner honoring the three finalists for the Ben Hogan Award presented by Baird will be held in Fort Worth on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, at the TCU Legends Club.

Fort Worth Colonial Charities to Oversee Ben Hogan Award

Posted on August 8, 2025

in Special Announcements

FORT WORTH, Texas (Aug. 8, 2025) – Fort Worth Colonial Charities (FWCC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to supporting charitable endeavors with a focus on youth enrichment initiatives, will take over the operations of the Ben Hogan Award Presented by Baird beginning in August. Members of the Hogan Trophy Award Foundation voted in favor of a contribution plan at a July board meeting.

“Thanks to so many people in Fort Worth, Los Angeles and far beyond, from partners to sponsors to friends of college golf, the Ben Hogan Award’s prestige has grown tremendously over the years,” said Harold Muckleroy, Chairman of the Ben Hogan Award Presented by Baird. “Over time, it has become increasingly clear that we needed to find a partner that could oversee the daily operations of the award and work with our volunteer board to continue the award’s upward trajectory. Today, we are pleased to announce that we found a perfect fit in Fort Worth Colonial Charities.”

“Fort Worth Colonial Charities is proud to continue the longstanding partnership with the Friends of Golf (FOG) as we move forward together to advance the prestige of the Ben Hogan Award,” said FWCC board member Jim Leito. “The award that FOG created in 1990 is considered the pinnacle achievement for a collegiate and amateur golfer, and we are fully committed to ensuring it remains that way.”

Formed in 2014, FWCC oversees many well-established, successful events and programs that actively engage the Fort Worth community in support of the organization’s charitable mission. Among the initiatives related to golf and the Charles Schwab Challenge are Birdies for Charities, Executive Women’s Day, Patriots Outpost, Colonial Charity Challenge and Wounded Warriors Home Donations.

In the college golf world, Fort Worth Colonial Charities also operates the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational Presented by Charles Schwab and the Charles Schwab Women’s Collegiate Invitational. The men’s tournament (Sept. 28-30, 2025) and women’s event (March 22-24, 2026) are both hosted annually at Colonial Country Club and feature elite college golf fields.

“We are beyond excited, honored and humbled to be associated with the Ben Hogan Award,” said Brian Estridge, President and CEO of Fort Worth Colonial Charities. “As we continue to build, we will be working closely with the board and all of our partners to ensure that the most prestigious award in men’s college and amateur golf continues to properly honor the life of its namesake, Mr. Hogan.”

The Ben Hogan Award Presented by Baird annually awards the top men’s NCAA Division I, II or III, NAIA or NJCAA college golfer based on all collegiate, amateur and professional events over the previous 12 months. The Ben Hogan Award has honored the outstanding amateur collegiate golfer at Colonial Country Club since 2002. Prior to its move to Fort Worth, the original Ben Hogan Trophy was awarded by the Friends of Golf at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, Calif., beginning in 1990.

Over the years, recipients of the Ben Hogan Award have combined to accumulate 70 PGA TOUR wins and amass more than $465 million in prize money on the tour. Since 2002, the award has donated more than $1 million to college golf programs, providing scholarship grants as well as gifts to programs that have suffered tragic events.

The 2026 Ben Hogan Award Dinner is Monday, May 25, prior to the start of the PGA TOUR’s Charles Schwab Challenge. The three award finalists will attend the black-tie dinner. The Ben Hogan Award’s watch list will be announced on Jan. 29, 2026.

For more information on the Ben Hogan Award Presented by Baird, visit TheBenHoganAward.org and follow @BenHoganAward on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For additional information on Fort Worth Colonial Charities, visit fwcolonialcharities.com and follow @fwc_charities on Instagram and Twitter and Fort Worth Colonial Charities on Facebook.

Blog Whole Post

35 Players Selected to 2026 Ben Hogan Award Watch List

Former Recipient Mahan Named to Ben Hogan Award Executive Committee

Fort Worth Colonial Charities to Oversee Ben Hogan Award

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