2021 Jack Nicklaus Award Winners Named

DUBLIN, Ohio — John Pak of Florida State, Andrew Beckler of Washburn, Guilford’s James Mishoe, Point’s Ruan Pretorius, and Ben Partridge of Hutchinson Community College have been named the recipients of the 2021 Jack Nicklaus Award, presented by True Spec Golf. The Nicklaus Award recognizes the top players at the Division I, II, III, NAIA, and NJCAA levels.

“If you look at the records of these recipients, each one put together dominating seasons and are very deserving of this honor,” Jack Nicklaus said.

Division I: Pak, the Seminoles senior, was a PING First-Team All-American selection and an All-Region and All-ACC selection. Pak ended his career with school records for individual wins (eight) and scoring average (69.87). Receiving the Haskins, Hogan, and now the Nicklaus Award, Pak completes the second straight collegiate golf Triple Crown, following Pepperdine’s Sahith Theegala, who did so in 2020.

“I’ve had a chance to spend some time with John Pak at Florida State,” said Nicklaus. “He’s had one of the most decorated collegiate careers in recent history, and I expect him to enjoy success at the next level. As important, John’s a good young man, who represents himself, his university and the game very well.”

Division II: Beckler set the school record for season scoring average during the 2020-21 season, with a 70.42 average through 26 rounds. In 10 events, Beckler took home five individual titles, while finishing in the top five in the remaining events. The Ichabod senior finished second at the NCAA Division II Championship, the best individual finish in Washburn school history.

Division III: Finishing the season as the top ranked player in the Golfstat rankings, Mishoe capped off his senior season with a 71.31 scoring average. The Cary, North Carolina native was 75-2 against Golfstat top 100 DIII players.

NAIA: Pretorius, a native of South Africa, was the top-ranked NAIA player in Golfstat at season's end. Making the GCAA All-Region South team and being named to the NAIA PING First-Team All-American team, Pretorius carried a 71.53 scoring average and was a combined 81-2 against Golfstat’s top 100 NAIA players.

NJCAA: Partridge was instrumental in helping Hutchinson CC win their first National Championship, as he defeated teammate, Harry Crockett, in a playoff for medalist honors. The native of London, England, finished the 2020-21 season as the top-ranked NJCAA player via Golfstat. He also boasts an undefeated 82-0 record against Golfstat’s top 100 NJCAA players.

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