Preseason Accolades Roll in for James, Lee

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia golfers Ben James and Bryan Lee were each named to the prestigious Fred Haskins Award watch list, annually given to the top male U.S. Collegiate golfer. James (First Team) and Lee (Third Team) were also listed on the Golf Channel Preseason All-America Team.

The Fred Haskins Award is voted on by only college golfers, coaches and members of the golf media. Past winners of the Haskins Award presented by Stifel have captured 33 major championships and more than 400 professional tournaments around the world. Named in honor of Fred Haskins, the award is managed by the Haskins Foundation to acknowledge the top male golfer at the end of the season.

UVA is one of six programs nationally with multiple student-athletes on the Haskins Award Watch List.

2024-2025 Haskins Award Fall Watch List
(listed alphabetically):
Josele Ballester, Arizona State
Jackson Buchanan, Illinois
Luke Clanton, Florida State
David Ford, North Carolina
Ian Gilligan, Florida
Andrew Goodman, Oklahoma
Justin Hastings, San Diego State
Max Herendeen, Illinois
Ben James, Virginia
Filip Jakubcik, Arizona
Jackson Koivun, Auburn
Michael La Sasso, Ole Miss
Bryan Lee, Virginia
Christian Maas, Texas
Phichaksn Maichon, Texas A&M
Omar Morales, UCLA
Tommy Morrison, Texas
Jake Peacock, South Florida
Gordon Sargent, Vanderbilt
Calum Scott, Texas Tech
Will Sides, SMU
Preston Summerhays, Arizona State
Hiroshi Tai, Georgia Tech
Brendan Valdes, Auburn
Jackson Van Paris, Vanderbilt

James is coming off a banner sophomore season in which he earned First Team All-America honors from PING/CGCA and Golfweek. He became the first Cavalier ever to be a two-time First Team All-American. James led the Cavaliers with a 70.31 stroke average and tied for second at the NCAA Championships, the best ever finish by a UVA golfer. Over the summer, James was a member of the Team USA at the 2024 Arnold Palmer Cup.

Lee was an honorable mention on both PING/CGCA and Golfweek All-American team as a sophomore last season. He finished eighth at NCAA Baton Rouge Regional (-4, 212) to help UVA to a second-place finish, the best regional showing in program history. The January/February ACC Golfer of the Month went on to earn All-ACC honors. Lee was recognized as a GCAA Scholar All-American and named to the ACC All-Academic Team.