DUBLIN, Ohio -- Max Barile of Florida Southern College men's golf has been named the 2026 Jack Nicklaus Award presented by Workday recipient. The award, which recognizes the National Player of the Year at the Division II level, was presented to Barile and recipients from Division I, III, NAIA, and NJCAA on Sunday by Nicklaus and Workday during Nicklaus' annual "the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday" press conference. Barile joins a list of Florida Southern Nicklaus Award recipients that includes John VanDerLaan (2018) and John Coultas (2016). 

The redshirt senior from Land O' Lakes, Fla., led the Mocs with eight top-10 finishes this season, including seven consecutive before Florida Southern won the program's 14th NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship on May 22. Barile earned his first collegiate victory by six strokes at the Las Vegas Desert Classic on March 3, recording a career-low 14-under 202 (68-69-65). Carding a 70.49 scoring average, Barile was named 2026 PING First Team All-American, PING All-South Region, Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Golfer of the Year, and First Team All-SSC in 2025-26. 

By receiving the Division II Nicklaus Award as a senior, Barile is eligible to earn the same benefits as players who finish 11-25 in the PGA TOUR University Ranking. He earns PGA TOUR Americas membership beginning with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open presented by Sydney June 25-28 through the end of the current PGA TOUR Americas season. Barile is also eligible to be exempt into the Second Stage of this season's PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.

About Jack Nicklaus Award presented by Workday 
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. 
 
About the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday 
The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday is held annually at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus. The Tournament, founded and hosted by Jack Nicklaus, is conducted each year with three goals in mind: to honor the memory of individuals living and deceased who have distinguished themselves in the game of golf; to showcase the world's best golfers competing on one of the most challenging venues in the world for the enjoyment of spectators; and to benefit many Greater Columbus Charities in alliance with the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation and numerous other local organizations. For more information, visit www.thememorialtournament.com or call 614-889-6700. 
  
About Workday 
Workday is the enterprise AI platform for managing people, money, and agents. Workday unifies HR and Finance on one intelligent platform with AI at the core to empower people at every level with the clarity, confidence, and insights they need to adapt quickly, make better decisions, and deliver outcomes that matter. Workday is used by more than 11,500 organizations around the world and across industries – from medium-sized businesses to more than 65% of the Fortune 500. For more information about Workday, visit workday.com.