SEARCY, Ark. — Harding junior Dennis Staykov added the ultimate exclamation point to his historic season on Friday, earning NCAA Division II PING Honorable Mention All-America honors as announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA).
With the selection, Staykov becomes just the second player in Harding men's golf history to earn All-America status. He joins an elite club alongside his current head coach, Sam Tandy, who captured third-team honors in 2023 and first-team honors in 2024.
The All-America nod caps off an unforgettable 2025-26 campaign for the Sofia, Bulgaria, native. Staykov anchored the No. 20-ranked Bisons all year, finishing the season ranked 17th nationally and first in the Central Region according to the latest Scoreboard by Clippd metrics.
Staykov's postseason run was nothing short of spectacular. He was named the Great American Conference Player of the Year before capturing his second career GAC individual championship at Forest Ridge Golf Club. He followed that up with a career-best performance at the NCAA Central/Midwest Regional, carding a 1-under 215 to finish tied for fourth and narrowly missing a national tournament berth in a sudden-death playoff.
The GCAA has been naming NCAA Division II All-Americans since 1975, with PING sponsoring the prestigious award since 1991. Staykov was one of 28 golfers nationally to receive Honorable Mention recognition in 2026, alongside Central Region peers Baylor Bostick (Central Oklahoma), Peyton Coahran (Winona State), and CJ Phillips (Central Missouri).
Harding Golf PING All-America History
2026 PING All-America Teams (Central Region Selections)
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Second Team: Nick Canales, Central Oklahoma
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Honorable Mention: Baylor Bostick, Central Oklahoma; Peyton Coahran, Winona State; CJ Phillips, Central Missouri; Dennis Staykov, Harding
