Virginia places three on 2026 Haskins Award spring watch list, underscoring depth in men’s college golf

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia’s Josh Duangmanee, Ben James and Bryan Lee were named Monday, March 9, to the 2026 Haskins Award presented by Stifel Spring Watch List, one of just two programs with three selections among the 20 collegiate golfers recognized. The Haskins Award, widely regarded as the top individual honor in U.S. men’s college golf, is voted on exclusively by college golfers, coaches and members of the golf media and sits alongside the NCAA’s own postseason structure as a key benchmark of individual performance in Division I men’s golf.

How the selection process unfolds

The spring watch list will be trimmed to 15 players following conference championships, which are staged under the governance of the NCAA’s Division I men’s golf championship framework and the broader NCAA governance model. A final watch list of 10 will be released on May 22 ahead of the NCAA Championships, with those 10 finalists set to be honored at the 3rd Annual Haskins Honors at The Grand Blanc (adjacent to the 1st green at Omni La Costa) on Wednesday, May 27. Each iteration of the list is independent; appearing on an earlier watch list is not required for later consideration, which allows late-season surges to be fully reflected. For context on the championship window that frames those milestones, see the NCAA’s Division I men’s golf structure and championship calendar on the association’s official site.

Form guide: Virginia’s trio

• Ben James (Senior) – A two-time Haskins finalist (2023, 2025) and currently No. 1 in the PGA TOUR University rankings, positioning him for one of the automatic professional status pathways that system confers. He has finished in the top five in all six starts this season, including a T-1 at the Ben Hogan Collegiate on September 30, decided via a five-man playoff. The program’s only three-time All-American, he recorded his 100th par-or-better round in 125 collegiate starts on Sunday, underscoring a level of consistency that resonates with both voters and selectors.
• Bryan Lee (Senior) – Three top-10s in the fall and a T-2 to open the spring at the Puerto Rico Classic have anchored his final collegiate campaign. A two-time PING East All-Region selection whose T-6 at the 2025 ACC Championships contributed to Virginia’s first league title, Lee has already demonstrated an ability to deliver in conference play. He qualified for the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club last summer, ranks 12th in PGA TOUR University and sits No. 33 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), a combination that highlights both his national standing and his potential to step quickly into the professional ranks.
• Josh Duangmanee (Junior) – T-8 at the Jones Cup Invitational before consecutive runner-up finishes at the Puerto Rico Classic and Southern Highlands Collegiate has marked a breakthrough stretch. He fired a career-best 15-under 201 (67-69-65) to help Virginia win the Puerto Rico Classic (Feb. 9-11) and logged 42 straight bogey-free holes spanning the Southern Highlands Collegiate and The Hayt. He is No. 40 in WAGR, one of three Cavaliers inside the top 50, giving Virginia a rare concentration of elite amateurs within a single men’s golf program.

Competitive stakes this spring

Having three candidates at this stage signals both high performance and depth for Virginia as the calendar turns toward conference championships and national qualification. Individual momentum in March and April typically carries weight with Haskins voters and can influence lineup confidence, selection decisions and seeding discussions entering NCAA regionals and the national finals. For athletic departments and university boards overseeing resource allocation and program strategy, that level of recognition can reinforce the case for continued investment in facilities, recruiting and high-performance support.

James’s position atop PGA TOUR University also underscores how late-spring results can shape immediate professional pathways upon the conclusion of the collegiate season, with tour-status outcomes tied directly to finishing positions. Lee and Duangmanee’s rankings point to multiple Cavaliers capable of contending for medalist honors at major team events, raising the ceiling for Virginia’s postseason run and further intertwining individual and team objectives as decision-makers manage lineups and competitive priorities.

National picture

Virginia shares the top-line representation with Texas Tech, which also features three players on the 20-man list. Arizona State and Texas have two selections apiece, reflecting the clustering of elite form across several title-contending programs and hinting at how competitive the NCAA Championship field could be at the top end. In practical terms, those concentrations of talent can shape competitive balance at regional sites and influence how conference commissioners and athletic administrators assess the national strength of their leagues during this Olympic-cycle biennium.

Key dates

• Post-conference cut to 15-man list (following completion of conference championships)
• Final 10-man watch list: May 22, ahead of NCAA Championship week
• Haskins Honors presentation (10 finalists): Wednesday, May 27, at The Grand Blanc, adjacent to the 1st green at Omni La Costa

2026 Haskins Award presented by Stifel – Spring Watch List