NORMAN, Okla. – Leandro Mihaich and
Oskari Nikku of Oklahoma Christian men's golf were named as finalists for the 2025 Gary Player International Golfer of the Year Award presented by FlightScope, the GCAA announced Tuesday, June 17.
Mihaich, the 2024 recipient of the award and a 2025 finalist for the Jack Nicklaus NCAA DII Men's Golfer of the Year award, and Nikku became the program's first pair of PING First Team All-Americans in the same year following the 2025 NCAA DII National Championships where the international duo helped OC record its fourth consecutive top-eight national finish.
The award is given to five outstanding collegiate golfers from outside the United States, one each for NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, as well as NAIA and NJCAA.
The finalists by division are:
Division I:
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)
Division II:
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)
Division III:
Elias Becker, Sewanee (Mexico)
Justin Chan, Carnegie Mellon (England)
Watcharakan Chankarn, Greensboro (Thailand)
NAIA:
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)
NJCAA:
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)
Considered one of golf's "Big Three" with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player has left an everlasting impact on the game of golf by being a worldwide ambassador, philanthropist, and golf course designer. One of only six golfers to win the career grand slam, Player has continuously used his position to improve the lives of others in a positive way as a humanitarian and has focused strongly on education for the underprivileged. He is a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, which celebrates sport's ability to create positive change in the world. Player's outstanding career has included 165 professional wins on six continents over seven decades and was acknowledged with being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974, the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, the PGA TOUR's Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Services to Golf in 2012, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2020.
The Gary Player Award is selected by GCAA International member coaches with representation from around the world.
