By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Western Washington University junior men's golfer Conrad Brown has been selected as a finalist for the 2026 NCAA Division II Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award presented by Workday.
Brown, a junior from Burlington, joins Max Barile of Florida Southern, Lewis Beeden of Wingate, Cooper Tendick of West Florida and Drew Zielinski of Lee as Nicklaus Award finalists for NCAA Division II. The winner will be announced by legendary Hall of Fame golfer Jack Nicklaus on Sunday, June 7 during his annual The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday press conference.
Brown has put his name on the national map recording a top 10 finish in nine of his 10 tournaments in 2025-26, including four consecutive finishes in the top seven. He most recently won individual medalist honors at the NCAA West/South Central Regional with a 10-under-par 206 for a one stroke victory. His performance helped lead the Vikings to the regional title after entering as the No. 1 seed in the West Region.
He also earned his first collegiate victory at the Otter Invitational during the fall portion of the season and finished runner-up at the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout in early March. Brown enters the national championship tournament with a season scoring average of 70.6 (-1 to par) and was selected as the GNAC Golfer of the Year.
All five finalists will be competing at the 2026 NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship May 18-22 at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nevada.
Nicklaus, the all-time record for the most professional men's major golf championships with 18 titles, was an NCAA Champion at Ohio State. He helped inspire and create the Jack Nicklaus Award in 1988, presented annually to the National Player of the Year in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, as well as NAIA and NJCAA.
