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IRVING, Texas – South Florida and North Texas earned the league’s top individual honors, while Charlotte claimed Coach of the Year as part of the 2026 American Conference Men’s Golf awards, announced Tuesday. The American Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year awards were voted on by the conference’s 11 men’s golf head coaches.
 
South Florida’s Wilhelm Ryding became the fifth Bull to be named American Player of the Year—and the third consecutive from the program—while North Texas’ Mitchell Maier earned the Mean Green’s first American Freshman of the Year honor. Charlotte head coach Ryan Cabbage was named American Coach of the Year for the second straight season.
 
Ryding, ranked No. 59 in NCAA Division I according to Clippd, earned Player of the Year honors following an impressive campaign that included four top-three finishes. The junior posted a 69.1 scoring average across 29 rounds.
 
Maier captured Freshman of the Year honors after a standout debut season. In 11 tournaments, he recorded a 71.3 scoring average, highlighted by a third-place finish at the American Conference Championship, where he shot 12-under-par 204.
 
Following Charlotte’s second consecutive American Conference Men’s Golf Championship, Cabbage secured his second straight Coach of the Year honor. He guided the 49ers to a No. 19 national ranking in the Clippd standings. At the American Championship, Charlotte shot 48-under-par 816 to win the team title by 17 strokes. Across 10 tournaments, the 49ers recorded three top-three finishes.
 
A total of 12 players from six member institutions earned All-Conference honors. Charlotte led all programs with five selections, including unanimous picks in sophomore Chase Cline and senior Justin Matthews. Ryding, along with Rice’s Lukas Boandl, also earned unanimous All-Conference recognition.
 
2026 American Conference Men’s Golf Awards
 
Player of the Year
Wilhelm Ryding, Jr., South Florida
 
Freshman of the Year
Mitchell Maier, North Texas
 
Coach of the Year
Ryan Cabbage, Charlotte*
 
All-Conference
Erik Olin, Gr., UAB
Daniel Boone, Jr., Charlotte
Seb Cave, Jr., Charlotte
Chase Cline, So., Charlotte*
Frazer Jones, Jr., Charlotte
Justin Matthews, Sr., Charlotte*
Diego Lourenco, Jr.,  Memphis
Yixiang Wang, Jr., Memphis
Mitchell Maier, Fr., North Texas
Lukas Boandl, Sr., Rice*
Daniel Zou, So., Rice
Wilhelm Ryding, Jr., South Florida*
 
*denotes unanimous selection