Men's Golf

MIAC announces 2025-26 Men’s Golf awards

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its award recipients for the 2025-26 men's golf season on Monday.
 
Gustavus sophomore Jimmy Abdo was selected as the Men's Golf Player of the Year, while Bethel first-year Zeke Roberts was named the Men's Golf Rookie of the Year, and Bethel head coach Nick Cocalis was recognized as Men's Golf Coach of the Year.
 
Abdo (Edina, Minn. / Edina) was named MIAC Men's Golf Player of the Year after posting an average round score of 73.0 during his sophomore campaign. Abdo placed among the top 10 competitors at six events during the 2025-26 season, and among the top five at three tournaments. He is the third different Gustie since 2013 to be named MIAC Men's Golf Player of the Year.
 
Roberts (Lake Elmo, Minn. / Stillwater) was voted MIAC Men's Golf Rookie of the Year after averaging 74.3 shots per round in 2025-26. Roberts carded a pair of top 10 finishes, along with one top-five result in his debut season, and placed eleventh on the individual leaderboard at the 2025 MIAC Men's Golf Championships to help the Royals win the conference title. Roberts is the third Bethel golfer to be named MIAC Rookie of the Year in men's golf.
 
Cocalis (seventh season) was celebrated by his peers with MIAC Men's Golf Coach of the Year honors for the second time in his career after guiding the Royals to the MIAC title and NCAA Championship berth for the second time in three seasons. The Royals averaged 296.2 shots per round during the 2025-26 season and placed first or second as a team at four of the five 54-hole tournaments in which they competed. Cocalis, who was previously awarded MIAC Men's Golf Coach of the Year in 2024, is now the fourth men's golf coach since 1997 to receive the honor more than once.
 
The MIAC Men's Golf All-Conference team was selected using a combination of MIAC championship results and end-of-season voting. The top 10 finishers (including ties) at the MIAC Championship last fall automatically earned All-MIAC honors, and coaches nominated and voted on five additional players to the All-MIAC squad based on their body of work throughout the season.
 
Gustavus senior Chris Gutuza, who carded the lowest 18-hole total in recorded conference history with a 9-under par 63 in September, became the 21st men's golf player on record to be named All-MIAC four times, while Carleton junior Sam Higaki became the 48th three-time honoree.
 
The conference also recognized honorable mention selections, bestowing the accolade upon any individual who did not place among the top five vote-getters but still received votes from at least three coaches.
 
| 2025-26 MIAC Men's Golf Awards |