Max Barile, a senior at Florida Southern College and former Sunlake High golfer, has been named the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Jack Nicklaus Award. This honor recognizes him as the national player of the year in NCAA Division II men’s golf. The award ceremony took place on June 7 at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio, where Jack Nicklaus personally presented it alongside winners from other divisions. As a senior recipient, Barile now qualifies for membership in PGA Tour Americas and receives exemptions into professional tournaments including the Wichita Open. His outstanding season included multiple Sunshine State Conference honors and leading his team to their 14th NCAA national championship by defeating Wingate three to two. Barile won the title by four strokes over Cole Rouse after carding six birdies in a wire-to-wire final round performance. This achievement continues a legacy at Florida Southern, joining previous award winners John VanDerLaan and John Coultas from the college’s golf program.
Former Sunlake Golfer Max Barile Wins NCAA Division II Player of Year Award
