Co-host of “Good Morning America” and Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan along with tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rob Gronkowski will host the first national USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, presented by the U.S. Polo Assn., Aug. 5.
The show will honor the top players from around the country and name the national player of the year in each sport. Among the awards that will be presented are the top girls and boys high school golfer of the year. Also, helping with the ceremony is four-time PGA Tour winner Ryan Palmer. All of the nominees in the boys category are listed below.
The show will also feature Shaquille O’Neal, Aaron Rodgers, Chipper Jones, Sue Bird, Kevin Garnett, Martin St. Louis, Monica Aldama, Jennie Finch, Laurie Hernandez and more.
Recording artist DJ Khaled and ESPN’s Charly Arnolt will host the national red-carpet segments, where they’ll interview some of the top high school athletes from around the country and highlight their performances over the last year.
The on-demand national awards show will debut at 8 p.m. Eastern Aug. 5 on the show website. It will also be available to watch on YouTube and USA TODAY News and USA TODAY Sports Wire Channels, available on Roku, Samsung, and on most smart televisions.
Here’s a look at the top golfers vying for the national award.
Editor’s note: Alaska, California and Hawaii are not included because they didn’t play last year.
Gordon Sargent defended his title and claimed victory as the Alabama State Amateur Champion in June with a 17-under 267. This followed the finish of an impressive high school season where he won both individual and team state championships. It was the second time in his prep career that Sargent, who will play for Vanderbilt this fall, was the low medalist at the state championships, matching the feat he accomplished as a freshman in 2018.
Hamilton’s Mahanth Chirravuri captures Arizona’s top golfer honors on the heels of his Division 1 individual state championship victory. The junior star dominated on the course all season long, leading the Huskies to their second consecutive team state title and posting the top scoring average among all state Division 1 and 2 players. A top national recruit, Chirravuri has already committed to tee it up in college at the University of Southern California.
Michael Senn claims the award for top boys golfer in Arkansas after taking advantage of a second chance when the pressure was mounting for the Bentonville High School senior. Senn calmed his nerves to sink a five-foot birdie putt in a playoff to win the Arkansas all-state title. The clutch win avenged a heartbreaking playoff loss a week earlier in the Class 6A state championship to Tigers teammate Phisher Phillips.
Aspen High School’s Nic Pevny claim’s the state’s top boys golfer award after a below-par performance to take home his team’s first-ever individual state title. The sweet-swinging junior followed up an opening-round 69 by firing an even-par 71 to close out the Class 3A state championship at Dos Rios Golf Course. Pevny, who is the third-ranked player in the state according to the American Junior Golf Association, is a two-time first-team all-state selection, as well.
Ben James is Connecticut’s top boys golfer after dominating both the high school and AJGA circuit this spring. The junior was a top player on a talented Hamden Hall team, James won numerous times, including a three-shot win at the McCampbell Cup Series in Rhode Island, as well as a dominant victory at the Scott Robertston Cup in Virginia. He won the 54-hole tournament by five strokes, carding a 66 in his final round. James is committed to play for the University of Virginia.
Tatnall’s Jeff Homer is one of the most talented golfers in the country, and he claims this year’s top boys’ golf honor in Delaware. The sophomore was a huge reason why The Tatnall School had one of the best boys’ golf programs in Delaware in 2021. He had several great performances this year, but one of his best came when he shot a 3 under at DuPont Country Club in a quad meet victory. This won’t be the last time you hear the name Jeff Homer.
Junior Luke Clanton dominated at season’s end to claim his second Class 2A individual state championship in three years. The American Heritage star shot two rounds under 70 and beat the field by 9 strokes. Clanton led the Patriots to a second-place finish in the state tournament, claimed victory in the regional championship and set a Broward county-record round 64. He’s given his verbal commitment to Florida State University.
The No. 1 golfer for a program that won its fifth straight Class 6A title in dominant fashion. Patel was a big reason why, finishing 5-under par for the tournament with rounds of 70 and 67. He’ll continue his career at the University of Virginia.
Just a junior, Coeur d’Alene’s Cole Jaworski played a great season of golf, and that’s why he claims the state’s top boys’ golf honor. One of his best performances of the year came at the Lewiston Invitational where he shot a 71 and earned the medalist honor. Jaworski was the biggest reason why his school was one of the better programs in the state. He will be a strong contender for a state championship as a senior next season.
John Wild went unbeaten in dual meets and punctuated his season with a 1-over 73 to claim the Oswego Sectional. The best golfer in Illinois helped spur the Hilltoppers to a repeat as team champions, as well. Wild tied for third at state in 2019, and will have another opportunity to add to his haul as a senior next autumn. He has not yet committed to a college program.
Peru High School senior Kash Bellar won the state tournament after coming into the second and final round with a three-stroke lead. He finished 6 under par for the tournament on the way to an eight-stroke victory. Bellar will golf for Ball State next season.
Warriors senior Jack Starr won the individual state title with a two-day total of 3 over par. He earned the top individual score across the entire state meet field with an overall score of three-over-par 147 for his 72 holes.
The Mill Valley senior recorded 71 and 68 at the 5A state championship, which earned him medalist honors. Mason was the 2018 Kansas Junior Player of the Year, the 2019 Kansas Amateur runner-up and a state runner-up in 2019. He also won the 2019 and 2020 Konza Prairie Amateur Championship.
The Mississippi State commit defended his state title in style, firing a 3-under 141 and edging Ryan Wotherspoon in a playoff on the first hole as darkness enveloped Bowling Green Country Club.
Griffin Dorr captured an individual state title when he won a dramatic sudden-death playoff, making him this year’s Louisiana Male Golf Player of the Year. On the strength of his 7-under-par effort in the Division I opening round, Dorr eventually forced the sudden-death round, winning on the second hole which not only cemented his own state title, but also one for the St. Paul’s team.
Made four birdies, including three in a row on Nos. 4-6, en route to carding a 74 that was good enough to hold on for the Class C state individual title by one stroke.
Walter Johnson High School’s Jake Griffin is one of the best high school golfers in America and he ends his high school career by claiming Maryland’s top boys’ golf honor. The senior is headed to Penn State University to continue his career on the links. Griffin had another strong season on the golf course and has been a big name ever since he played in the Pure Insurance Open at Pebble Beach at age 16.
This year, the pandemic forced Massachusetts to have all of the classes compete in the Massachusetts High School Golf Championship, and senior Dan Brooks emerged as the winner. The win clinched him a spot in the National Invitational at Pinehurst.
The top-ranked player in Michigan, PJ Maybank III is Northern Michigan’s top boys golfer after playing at a high level in 2021. The Cheboygan High School sophomore, who won the state’s junior amateur in 2020, shot a 135 at the Division 3 state championship to win his first state title and set the Division 3 scoring record. He notably won ‘The Nightmare Invite’ by shooting a 71. He also set Cheboygan’s school record this year, carding a 64.
As a junior, Stevens won the Class 3A boys’ golf individual championship. He earned the top spot by two strokes after finishing finished with a 10-under-par, 134.
Tupelo’s Walker Wise claims Mississippi’s top boys golf honor after medaling in several events throughout the 2021 season. The junior was incredible this year, winning the SJGT Gulf Shore Junior Classic and earning a place on the All-Tournament team. Wise will look to continue his fantastic career next year as a senior for Tupelo.
Rockhurst High School’s Liam Coughlin shined on the links as a senior, and that’s why he claims Missouri’s top boys’ golf honor. He was one of the top-ranked junior golfers in the country and will continue his golf career at the University of Central Oklahoma. Coughlin had several great performances this year, including when he shot a 73 and helped Rockhurst beat Staley. His time at Rockhurst won’t soon be forgotten.
Kade McDonough came up large on the biggest stage with a victory at the 2020 Class AA state championship. McDonough is the first state champion for Sentinel High School since 2005. The freshman helped his squad win its first team state golf championship since 1999.
Knights senior Luke Gutschewski defended his state title this year, leading his team to the championship. He shot 2 under for the tournament with a score of 71 on both days. He is headed to Iowa State.
Blake Schaper took home the 3A Southern Regionals title this year. He was a Nevada 3A All-State First Team selection in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. He will golf for South Dakota State University.
The Timberlane senior went low for a career-best, five-under 137 in the two-day Division I state championship, making birdie on the 15th and 16th on day two to win by a dominating five strokes.
Colin Summers ended his high school career as a record-setting champion, taking first in the tournament of champions with a 7-under par 63 — the lowest score in tournament history. He beat the rest of the competition at the biggest event of the year by three strokes. Summers is headed to Fairfield University to continue his career on the links.
Quinn Yost is New Mexico’s boys golfer of the year, rolling a 5A individual state championship by firing a 67 to win by three strokes over the rest of the field. The Piedra Vista High School junior raced out to a four-under start after five holes and held on to the win. It’s his first career state championship.
Jackson Van Paris made history when he was the first repeat champion of the AJGA Simplify Boys Championship with a 13-under par 203.
Zach Hinschberger, who’s also a standout hockey player, has golfed with the Roughriders since seventh grade. He helped Red River to three consecutive Class A state titles and will golf for the University of North Dakota next season.
Gilkison finished in a tie for fifth place in the 2019 tournament but finished 2020 as the state champion. Gilkison finished his two-day tourney run with a 1-over par 143, a three-stroke victory over the runner-up. After the first day of the event. Gilkison was at a 72, two strokes behind the leader, but shot even for the second day. Gilkison ended the day in style with his second birdie in three holes on hole 18.
Dominic Stevens won all nine tournaments he played as a senior and had a stroke average of 70.41. He claimed the 2A State Individual Title in 2021 shooting a 200 and was an All-State selection. He will play at Northeastern State University.
As a senior, Nick Watts was the No. 1 junior golfer in the state, according to the Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings, and the 35th ranked player nationally in the 2021 recruiting class.
Sanderson won the Class AAA individual state championship in 2020 by one stroke. The junior from Holy Ghost is ranked in the top 50 in the nation by the American Junior Golf Association. He is committed to the University of Notre Dame.
The 15-year-old standout Max Jackson was the first freshman since 2014 to win the Rhode Island Interscholastic League’s individual state championship. He shot a total of 140 in two days at Cranston Country Club. He was not only 2-under par, but also topped the runner-up by seven shots.
May River’s Andrew Swanson is one of the top-ranked golfers in the country, and he was the best boys’ golfer in the state this season. The senior is headed to Clemson University to continue his golf career. One of his best performances of the year came against Hilton Head and Beaufort when he posted a 34. He came up just short of winning the 2019 state championship and was always in the mix amongst the leaders at the biggest events of the year.
Lincoln High’s Nash Stenberg was in a league by himself last season. The senior won the AA state championship, finishing with a score of 142 (73-69). In the last round of his high school career, he collected five birdies and shot a 1-under 69.
At the Tennessee Junior PGA Championship, Lance Simpson shot a two-day total of 132, which was 10 under, to run away with the tournament title by eight strokes over the second-place finisher.
The top golfer in Texas wasn’t going to let two lightning delays derail his quest for a state title. Dulany, a junior, weathered the storms to claim the Class 6A championship with a 4-under 68. He will be back for another round of prep golf next year, and he is already committed to play at Arkansas in college.
Shelley won the 5A individual golf state championship in 2020. The Skyline High School star golfer was 16 under par at the state meet, which was the best score of any golfer at any state tourney in Utah. Shelley will continue his career at Brigham Young University.
Nelson Eaton was the 2020 Vermont Division 1 State Champion and the Vermont Junior Champion and was co-captain of the team. He will be attending Bentley, where he intends to study finance.
Kelly Chinn was named the junior boys’ player of the year by the American Junior Golf Association, becoming the first Virginia native to receive the prestigious honor. Last month, he earned medalist honors at the U.S. Junior for the second time in his career. He is headed to Duke University.
Nothing stopped Kamiak’s Daniel Kim from putting it on the green and sinking putts in his junior year. He helped keep Kamiak in the shortened spring season after leading his team to a Class 4A Washington State Championship back in 2019. Kim also played nationally, never shooting above an 80 at the AJGA Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods, PING Heather Farr Classic and the KJ Choi Foundation Texas Junior Championship.
Shady Spring’s Todd Duncan is the top West Virginia boys’ golfer. The West Virginia University commit won back-to-back Class AA individual state titles and led Shady Spring to the team state title. He was also named the West Virginia Golf Association Boys Player of the Year.
Middleton High School’s Jacob Beckman ended his career as the best senior in the state, and that’s why he claims Wisconsin’s top boys’ golf honor. Beckman will continue his career in-state at the University of Wisconsin. One of his best performances of the year came at the Spartan Invite when he captured medalist honors with a 75. He was the biggest reason why his school won the 10-team event.
Paxton won the 2020 individual 3A state championship. Just a freshman, he had the best score of any golfer in the state at any of the state meets.