SEWANEE, Tenn. – Sewanee's Elias Becker has been named a finalist for the Gary Player International Golfer of the Year Award presented by FlightScope, the Golf Coaches Association of America announced Tuesday afternoon.
Established in 2024, the award recognizes five outstanding collegiate golfers from outside the United States—one each from NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, as well as the NAIA and NJCAA.
Becker is one of three finalists in Division III, joining Justin Chan of Carnegie Mellon and Watcharakan Chankarn of Greensboro.
A native of Mexico City, Mexico, Becker wrapped up a standout junior season with a final national ranking of No. 14. He was named Southern Athletic Association Co-Player of the Year, earned All-Region honors, and was a First-Team All-SAA selection. He also captured the individual title at the SAA Championship and recorded five top-15 finishes on the year.
Becker helped lead Sewanee to a 10th-place team finish at the NCAA Division III Championships, placing 20th individually.
Considered one of golf's "Big Three" with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player has left an everlasting impact on the game of golf by being a worldwide ambassador, philanthropist, and golf course designer. One of only six golfers to win the career grand slam, Player has continuously used his position to improve the lives of others in a positive way as a humanitarian and has focused strongly on education for the underprivileged. He is a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, which celebrates sport's ability to create positive change in the world. Player's outstanding career has included 165 professional wins on six continents over seven decades and was acknowledged with being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974, the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, the PGA TOUR's Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Services to Golf in 2012, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2020.
The Gary Player Award is selected by GCAA International member coaches with representation from around the world.
The finalists by division are:
Division I:
Josele Ballester, Arizona State (Spain)
Daniel Bennett, Texas (South Africa)
Algot Kleen, LSU (Sweden)
Phichaksn Maichon, Texas A&M (Thailand)
Christiaan Maas, Texas (South Africa)
Division II:
Sungyeop Cho, Colorado Christian (South Korea)
Felipe Gomez, Georgia Southwestern (Spain)
Leandro Mihaich, Oklahoma Christian (Argentina)
Oskari Nikku, Oklahoma Christian (Finland)
Sangha Park, Colorado Christian (South Korea)
Division III:
Elias Becker, Sewanee (Mexico)
Justin Chan, Carnegie Mellon (England)
Watcharakan Chankarn, Greensboro (Thailand)
NAIA:
Adam Buchanan, Keiser (Northern Ireland)
Grant Ferreira, Southwestern Christian (South Africa)
Rio Saigal, Lindsey Wilson (England)
Vedant Sirohi, Webber International (India)
Jack Whaley, Dalton State (England)
NJCAA:
Charlie Box, Hutchinson (England)
Gabriele Bravin, Heartland (Italy)
Adam Bresnu, Odessa (Morocco)
Stanley Campbell, Mississippi Gulf Coast (England)
Jorge Parada, South Mountain (Mexico)
Scott Spark, Midland (Scotland)
