Staff WriterIf you ever needed proof that the game of golf is in rude international health, look no further than the shortlist for the 2025 Gary Player International Golfer of the Year Award.
Announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America in partnership with FlightScope, the award recognises five of the finest collegiate golfers from outside the United States—one from each competitive level across the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA.
And in true Gary Player fashion—after all, the man logged more air miles than most migratory birds—this lineup spans six continents and several time zones, offering a delicious reminder that talent is not bound by zip code or accent.
A World Tour in Five Divisions
Let’s start in Division I, where the competition is stiffer than the collar on a new Sunday polo. Representing the top tier are:
- Josele Ballester, Arizona State (Spain)
- Daniel Bennett, Texas (South Africa)
- Algot Kleen, LSU (Sweden)
- Phichaksn Maichon, Texas A&M (Thailand)
- Christiaan Maas, Texas (South Africa)
South Africa, you’ll notice, is double-dipping—a fitting nod to Player’s homeland, where golf is as serious as the braai.
Over in Division II, things stay spicy with five players who’ve clearly learned to take nothing for granted on their rise through the ranks:
- Sungyeop Cho, Colorado Christian (South Korea)
- Felipe Gomez, Georgia Southwestern (Spain)
- Leandro Mihaich, Oklahoma Christian (Argentina)
- Oskari Nikku, Oklahoma Christian (Finland)
- Sangha Park, Colorado Christian (South Korea)
If golf were the Eurovision Song Contest, Division II would have the eclectic mix to steal the popular vote.
Meanwhile, Division III doesn’t hold back either. It includes:
- Elias Becker, Sewanee (Mexico)
- Justin Chan, Carnegie Mellon (England)
- Watcharakan Chankarn, Greensboro (Thailand)
Smaller schools, perhaps, but big swings—and even bigger dreams.
The NAIA contingent is practically a United Nations in cleats, with five sharp-shooters from across the Commonwealth and beyond:
- Adam Buchanan, Keiser (Northern Ireland)
- Grant Ferreira, Southwestern Christian (South Africa)
- Rio Saigal, Lindsey Wilson (England)
- Vedant Sirohi, Webber International (India)
- Jack Whaley, Dalton State (England)
And then we land in the NJCAA, where rising stars sharpen their blades before turning pro or transferring to the big college show. The final nominees:
- Charlie Box, Hutchinson (England)
- Gabriele Bravin, Heartland (Italy)
- Adam Bresnu, Odessa (Morocco)
- Stanley Campbell, Mississippi Gulf Coast (England)
- Jorge Parada, South Mountain (Mexico)
- Scott Spark, Midland (Scotland)
If the Gary Player International Golfer of the Year award were handed out based on passport stamps alone, we’d need a panel of customs officers to make the final call.
A Legacy Worth Living Up To
Of course, this isn’t just another collegiate trophy—it bears the name Gary Player, a man who didn’t just play golf but redefined how the game was played on a global scale.
One of only six men to win the career Grand Slam, Player racked up 165 professional wins across seven decades and six continents.
He’s as much a humanitarian as he is a Hall-of-Famer, holding accolades like the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award, the PGA TOUR’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
As a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, Player has long championed the idea that sport can be a force for good. Education, opportunity, and access—he’s swung harder for those than most people do for the 18th fairway.
The award bearing his name is selected by a panel of international GCAA coaches, lending it a global credibility that mirrors the man himself. It’s not about who hits the longest drive—it’s about who carries the spirit of the game across borders, fairways, and futures.
So, hats off (but keep the visors on) to these young guns. Whether they’re grinding out 6 a.m. tee times in Arizona or braving the wind at a windswept community college in Mississippi, each has earned their place on this global stage.
The Gary Player International Golfer of the Year finalists aren’t just the future of the sport—they’re a tribute to the game’s ever-expanding heart.
And no doubt about it—Mr Player would certainly tip his cap to this lot.
