Jonathan McEwen ’27 Earns Jack Nicklaus Award as the Division III Golfer of the Year The rising junior was presented the award at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio on June 1.

Athletics Communications
June 3, 2025

Washington and Lee University student Jonathan McEwen ’27 was named the 2025 NCAA Division III Player of the Year by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), receiving the Jack Nicklaus Award presented by Workday at the Memorial Tournament hosted by Jack Nicklaus at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio on Sunday, June 1.

McEwen becomes the first player in W&L program history to receive the prestigious award, which honors the top men’s golfer at each level of collegiate golf: NCAA Divisions I, II, III, NAIA and NJCAA. He joins fellow 2025 recipients David Ford (North Carolina, DI), Adam Duncan (Colorado Christian, DII), Jack Whaley (Dalton State, NAIA) and Adam Bresnu (Odessa, NJCAA).

After being named the 2024 NCAA Division III Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman of the Year, McEwen ascended to the No. 1 national ranking in Division III for much of the 2024–25 season and has remained in the top three since October.

In nine events during the 2024-25 season, McEwen finished in the top three six times and claimed a program-record five individual victories, rewriting the W&L record books along the way. He set individual program records twice in 54-hole scoring and helped lead the Generals to new team marks in 18-, 36- and 54-hole totals, as well as to the team’s first-ever No. 1 national ranking.

He was a model of consistency, posting even-par or better scores in 22 of 26 rounds and finishing the season with an astounding 68.5 adjusted scoring average — the only sub-70 mark in Division III.

At the 2025 ODAC Championship, McEwen fired a 12-under 204, setting both ODAC and W&L 54-hole scoring records en route to the individual title. He was named the ODAC Golfer of the Year, earned First Team All-ODAC, PING All-Region IV and was selected a PING First Team All-American for the second consecutive year.

McEwen capped his historic sophomore campaign with a tied for 10th finish at the NCAA Division III Championship, helping lead W&L to a fourth-place national team finish, marking the program’s fourth consecutive top-10 showing.

“Jonathan is a special player and person, and we’re incredibly proud of what he’s accomplished this year,” said Pete Gyscek, Thomas R. Wall, IV ’80 Head Men’s Golf Coach. “His work ethic, maturity and ability to perform in pressure situations have set the tone for our entire team. He’s more than deserving of this honor.”

In total, McEwen holds six school records and has been instrumental in elevating the W&L golf program to national prominence.

The Jack Nicklaus Award, established in 1988, is one of the highest individual honors in collegiate golf. It was created to recognize the best collegiate golfer in each division and is presented annually during Nicklaus’ press conference at the Memorial Tournament, one of the PGA TOUR’s premier events.

To read the full GCAA release, click here.

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