ATLANTA—Oglethorpe junior Jackson Hiller has been named a finalist for the 2026 NCAA Division III Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award presented by Workday, announced the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) on Tuesday. The winner will be announced by Nicklaus on Sunday, June 7, during his annual the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday press conference. The award will be presented to the recipient by Nicklaus and Workday.

Hiller is fresh off winning Southern Athletic Association athlete of the year honors after medaling at the SAA Championships. He was an all-SAA first team selection, three-time SAA athlete of the week, ranks No. 3 in NCAA Division III and has posted three wins, four top-threes, and eight top-15 finishes in nine starts.

Among Hiller's other wins this season was the NCAA Division III Fall Preview in September which he won by five strokes. He set the program's 54-hole scoring record with a 13-under 202 (66-68-68) at that event.

Hiller is looking to become Oglethorpe's third Nicklaus Award recipient, where he would join Anthony Maccaglia (2015) and Trent Erb (2004).

Hiller and the other four finalists are competing this week at the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships at Mission Resort & Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida.

Nicklaus, a Big Ten and NCAA Champion at Ohio State, helped inspire and create the Jack Nicklaus Award in 1988. The award is now presented to the National Player of the Year in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, as well as NAIA and NJCAA.