Clippd Rankings

As the spring season begins, the Clippd individual rankings highlight a group of players who separated themselves through elite performance, major amateur success, and sustained consistency across the fall. This ranking reflects fall results, national honors, and competitive impact entering the championship segment of the season.

1. Ben James

University of Virginia

Ben James enters the spring as the top ranked player in Division I after a fall defined by national recognition and steady elite play. The Virginia junior was named a 2024–25 PING First Team All-American and earned ACC Golfer of the Month honors in September. He is a finalist for the Fred Haskins Award and a semifinalist for the Ben Hogan Award for the second straight season, placing him among the most decorated players in college golf.

James remains the anchor of a Virginia lineup built for postseason success. His consistency across elite fields and sustained presence on every major award watch list positions him as the most complete player entering the spring.

2. Bryan Kim

Duke University

Bryan Kim produced one of the strongest individual falls in the country, capturing two individual titles and leading Duke to a team championship. He claimed his first career win at the Bryan Bros Collegiate with a 54 hole total of 16 under, then added medalist honors at the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate in a field that included four top five ranked players nationally.

Kim posted under par scores in seven of nine rounds during September and finished the fall with a 69.22 scoring average. His ability to win in elite fields and close tournaments under pressure makes him one of the most dangerous players in the spring.

3. Mahanth Chirravuri

Pepperdine University

Mahanth Chirravuri enters the spring with one of the strongest award resumes in the country. The Pepperdine standout is a two time All WCC First Team selection, WCC Co Golfer of the Year, and a PING and GCAA All American. He was named to the Haskins Award Final Fall Watch List and the Golfweek Preseason All America team.

Chirravuri’s combination of postseason success and sustained excellence in conference play has established him as a consistent top ten finisher and a central figure in the national title race.

4. Ethan Fang

Oklahoma State University

Ethan Fang arrives in the spring as one of the most accomplished amateurs in the world. He became the first Oklahoma State player since 1967 to win The Amateur Championship and was a member of the victorious United States Walker Cup team. He also competed in the PGA Tour Procore Championship and represented the United States at the World Amateur Team Championship.

Fang is a PING First Team All American and Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. His major championship pedigree and match play success give Oklahoma State a proven leader for the postseason.

5. Gabriel Palacios

University of Utah

Gabriel Palacios delivered one of the best seasons in Utah program history as a sophomore. He recorded two wins, five top ten finishes, and a 70.2 scoring average that ranks as the best single season mark in school history. Palacios won both the John A. Burns Intercollegiate and The Goodwin and finished second in a 90 player field at the Palouse Collegiate.

Palacios is the first Guatemalan and first Ute to compete in the Arnold Palmer Cup and was recently named to the Haskins Award Watch List. His rapid rise has positioned him as a legitimate national contender.

6. Connor Graham

Texas Tech University

Connor Graham combines elite collegiate performance with rare major championship experience. He qualified for The Open Championship and competed at Royal Portrush as one of nine amateurs in the field. He also earned medalist honors at the British Amateur stroke play for the second straight year.

Graham was a PING All Region selection, a GCAA All Freshman, and a member of the Arnold Palmer Cup International Team. Recently named to the Haskins Award Final Watch List, he enters the spring as one of the most battle tested players in college golf.

7. Bryan Lee

University of Virginia

Bryan Lee continues to be a central piece of Virginia’s championship core. He qualified for the U.S. Open through sectional qualifying and made his PGA Tour debut. In college play, he finished runner up at the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate and played a decisive role in Virginia’s first ACC Championship.

Lee’s ability to lead in both stroke play and match play settings makes him one of the most reliable postseason performers in the country.

8. Wells Williams

Vanderbilt University

Wells Williams brings a resume built on both competitive excellence and academic distinction. He is a GCAA All American, two time Golfweek Honorable Mention All American, and a two time All SEC honoree. Recently named to the Haskins Award Watch List, Williams has established himself as one of the most complete players in the Southeastern Conference.

His experience in SEC championships and national fields gives Vanderbilt a steady leader entering the spring.

9. Josiah Gilbert

Auburn University

Josiah Gilbert is one of the most accomplished underclassmen in the country. He is a Second Team All American, a Palmer Cup selection, and the 2024 Valero Texas Collegiate champion. Gilbert finished the 2025 season ranked No. 15 nationally by Clippd and posted a 70.45 scoring average across 38 rounds.

He recorded 13 rounds in the 60s, 146 birdies, and played a key role in multiple Auburn team victories. His proven scoring ability and postseason production make him one of the most dangerous players in the spring.

10. Adam Bresnu

Texas Tech University

Adam Bresnu arrives in Division I after one of the most dominant junior college careers in recent history. He won nine times at Odessa College and was named both the NJCAA Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year and the Gary Player International Golfer of the Year.

Internationally, Bresnu made history as the first Arab born player to make the cut in a DP World Tour Rolex Series event and recorded a sixth place finish at the PIF Saudi International. Recently named to the Haskins Award Final Watch List, he brings proven winning experience at every level into the spring.

Outlook Entering the Spring

This group reflects a blend of proven collegiate champions, major amateur winners, and emerging international stars. With multiple Haskins and Hogan Award candidates and several players carrying major championship experience, the spring season sets up as one of the deepest individual races in recent years.

Source:
Clippd Player Rankings