NEWS | GCAA Jack Nicklaus official press release
 
Norman, Okla.----Wingate University standout Lewis Beeden has been named one of five finalists for the 2026 NCAA Division II Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award presented by Workday, recognizing one of the top accomplishments in collegiate golf.
 
The senior from London, England becomes the first player in Wingate men's golf history to be selected as a finalist for the prestigious national award. The winner will be announced June 7 during Jack Nicklaus' annual Memorial Tournament press conference.
 
The Jack Nicklaus Award is widely considered one of the highest individual honors in college golf, recognizing the top player in NCAA Division II each season. Named after 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus, the award has become one of the most respected achievements in amateur golf since its creation in 1988.
 
Beeden joins an elite group of finalists from some of the top Division II programs in the country, including Florida Southern, West Florida, Lee and Western Washington.
 
Historic season for Beeden
 
Beeden has put together one of the most impressive seasons in Wingate men's golf history, leading NCAA Division II with a 69.4 adjusted scoring average while ranking second nationally through the Scoreboard Powered by Clippd. He was named the South Atlantic Conference Men's Golfer of the Year and a first team All-SAC selection.
 
The senior has recorded eight top-10 finishes and two victories this season, consistently performing against some of the strongest fields in Division II golf. Beeden captured regular season victories at The Patriot Fall Classic (co-champion) and The Tennessee River Rumble.
 
One of his defining moments came at the South Atlantic Conference Championship, where he won both of his medal match play matches by a combined 14-up, helping lead the Bulldogs to their first SAC Championship since 2012.
 
One of golf's premier awards
 
The Jack Nicklaus Award has a long history of recognizing future stars in professional golf. Past winners and finalists have gone on to compete on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, making the award one of the most respected honors in collegiate golf.
 
The award is presented annually across all NCAA divisions, as well as NAIA and NJCAA competition, further emphasizing the significance of Beeden being selected as one of only five finalists in Division II.
 
What's next
 
Beeden and the Bulldogs now turn their focus toward the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship, which takes place May 18–22 at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nevada.
 
Wingate enters the national championship following a strong postseason run, highlighted by the Bulldogs capturing the SAC Championship and advancing through NCAA regional competition.
 
Beeden's selection marks another milestone moment for Wingate men's golf, further establishing the program among the elite teams and players in NCAA Division II.

Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 18 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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(Editor's note: Wingate junior men's golf student-athlete Matthew Wordon contributed this article. He is an international business major from Bath, England.)