NORMAN, Okla. — The Harding men's golf team received elite national academic honors, earning Presidents Special Recognition as part of the 2025–26 PLATFORM Golf Team Academic Awards announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA).

To earn Presidents Special Recognition, a program must achieve an average team cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher during the academic year. Harding was one of just 26 NCAA Division II men's golf programs in the nation to reach the 3.50 threshold.

The announcement caps off a decorated academic offseason for head coach Sam Tandy's squad. Earlier this month, four Bisons—Jose Arzu, Austin Bibb, Conner Geist, and Dennis Staykov—were named 2025–26 Cobalt Golf All-America Scholars by the GCAA. Bibb and Geist also earned CSC Academic All-District honors.

On the course, the Bisons put together one of the most successful seasons in program history. Harding placed second at the Great American Conference Championships, earned the No. 3 seed in the Central Region, and advanced to the NCAA Division II Central/Midwest Regional in Big Rapids, Michigan.

A GCAA-record 331 schools across six collegiate divisions earned a PLATFORM Golf Team Academic Award for 2025–26, with 155 earning Presidents Special Recognition.

NCAA Division II - Presidents Special Recognition (3.5+ Team GPA)

• Cal State East Bay

• DBU

• Eckerd

• Emmanuel (GA)

• Felician

• Florida Southern

• Harding

• Henderson State

• Hillsdale

• Indiana University of Pennsylvania

• Kentucky Wesleyan

• Maryville

• Miles

• Missouri S&T

• Parkside

• Post

• St. Mary's (TX)

• SWOSU

• Tiffin

• UIS

• UMSL

• UTPB

• Valdosta State

• Virginia State (NCAA Division II Academic National Champion, 3.832 GPA)

• Virginia Union

• West Florida