Kihei Akina wins Phil Mickelson Award as top freshman

Kihei Akina of BYU has been named the 2026 Phil Mickelson Award winner, recognizing him as the nation's top freshman in college golf. This accolade makes him the first player from BYU to receive this award. Akina concluded his freshman season by tying for eighth place at the national championship and achieved significant success with two tournament victories, including the Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational where he recorded the lowest score by a BYU player since the 1999-2000 season. He also posted a 69.05 scoring average, the best in BYU history, and was recognized as the Big 12 Freshman of the Year. Akina is set to compete on the U.S. team at the Arnold Palmer Cup this summer.

• 7:30 PMYahoo Sports — BYU's Kihei Akina named Phil Mickelson Award winner as nation's top freshman