Haskins Award: Finalists for men’s college player of the 2021-22 season

The postseason is underway in college golf, and after last week’s NCAA Regionals, the NCAA Division I Men’s Championship field is set for May 27-June 1 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.

With that championship field set, the race for the Haskins Award is wide open and white-hot. A handful of players have shone throughout the season as front-runners for the Haskins Award, which honors the player of the year in men’s college golf, as selected by college golfers, coaches and members of the college golf media.

The players are listed alphabetically. Players on the Haskins Award Watch List were selected by a panel of Golfweek and Golf Channel writers.

Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings: Men’s team | Men’s individual

Ludvig Aberg, Texas Tech

Tough fall seasons usually lead to strong spring seasons, just ask Aberg. The Swede earned big wins at the Prestige and Big 12 Championship, as well as three straight top-five finishes at the Valspar Collegiate (T-3) and Cabo Collegiate (T-5) and Aggie Invitational (2).

Ludvig Aberg

Texas Tech’s Ludvig Aberg after winning the 2022 Big 12 Championship. (Photo: Texas Tech Men’s Golf)

Sam Bennett, Texas A&M

The senior is usually in the mix for the Aggies and this season has a win at the Louisiana Classics and six top-five finishes in nine starts. His worst finish of the season came in his last event at home at the NCAA Bryan Regional (T-29).

Sam Bennett of Texas A&M fired a 67 in the final round to win the Texas Valero Open and earn an exemption to the Valero Texas Open. (Contributed photo)

Fred Biondi, Florida

A two-time winner this spring at the Gators Invitational and Calusa Cup (co-medalist), Biondi also two-runner up finishes at the NCAA Palm Beach Regional and loaded Southern Highlands Collegiate.

Florida’s Fred Biondi tees off on the 17th hole during the final round of the Calusa Cup, Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at Calusa Pines Golf Club in Naples, Fla.

Chris Gotterup, Oklahoma

The transfer from Rutgers has been the perfect plug-and-play option for the Sooners, with wins at the East Lake Cup and Puerto Rico Classic, a runner-up at the Big 12 Championship and a T-9 at home at the NCAA Norman Regional. In 12 events he has six top fives and 10 top 20s. Not too shabby.

Chris Gotterup, Oklahoma

Chris Gotterup, Oklahoma

Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra, Oklahoma State

The Cowboy might be the favorite. Has wins at the Amer Ari Invitational, NIT and NCAA Columbus Regional as well as top fives at the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational (T-2), Gators Invitational (T-3) and East Lake Cup (4). Very rarely has an off day and can go low with the best of ’em.

Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra, Oklahoma State

Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra, Oklahoma State, won the Amer Ari individual title. (OSU Athletics)

R.J. Manke, Washington

The Pepperdine transfer was a fall frontrunner for this year’s award and in 13 events boasts a 69.10 scoring average. Ended the fall with a pair of wins at the Fighting Irish Classic and Oregon State Invitational and has nine top-five finishes with just two outside the top 20.

RJ Manke

Washington’s RJ Manke. (Photo: Washington Men’s Golf)

Logan McAllister, Oklahoma

Has 10 finishes inside the top 20 in 11 starts, led by a win at the Carmel Cup. Finished the spring T-9 at the Thunderbird Collegiate, T-6 at the Big 12 Championship and fourth at home in the NCAA Norman Regional.

Logan McAllister

Oklahoma’s Logan McAllister. (Photo: Oklahoma Men’s Golf)

Trent Phillips, Georgia

A top-five machine this year with a win at the Williams Cup, a pair of runner-up finishes at the Carmel Cup and Linger Longer and a pair of fourth-place finishes at the Puerto Rico Classic and Calusa Cup. Ended the spring fifth at the SEC Championship and 12th at the NCAA Bryan Regional.

Trent Phillips

Georgia’s Trent Phillips. (Photo: Rob Davis, Georgia Men’s Golf)

Gordon Sargent, Vanderbilt

The SEC Freshman of the Year ended his spring with a win at the Mossy Oak Collegiate, a runner-up at the SEC Championship and T-4 at the NCAA Palm Beach Regional to play his way onto the final list. A win at the NCAA Championship would make for an interesting discussion.

Cole Sherwood, Vanderbilt

The Commodore sophomore has been nails this spring with a pair of wins at the Mason Rudolph Championship and Cabo Collegiate, where his 61 set a program 18-hole record. Finished top five at the Prestige (4) and Linger Longer Invitational (T-4) and was named first team All-SEC.

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