Yinuo Yan, an Iowa State University women’s golf standout from Ames, capped a memorable 2026 season by earning Iowa Golf Association Women’s Player of the Year honors. Yan’s campaign featured a historic double, as she captured both the Iowa Women’s Amateur Championship and the IGA Women’s Match Play Championship, becoming the first player in IGA history to win both titles in the same season.

Yan’s breakthrough summer began at Talons Golf in Ankeny, where she claimed the IGA Women’s Match Play Championship in her first IGA start. After advancing through the bracket, Yan defeated Karli Kerrigan of Des Moines 2 up in the semifinals before taking down Marion’s Morgan Rupp 3&1 in the championship match. Yan seized control early with a birdie on the first hole and pulled away late with consecutive birdies on the 16th and 17th holes to secure the title.

Just three days later, Yan carried that momentum into the 102nd Iowa Women’s Amateur Championship at Hyperion Field Club, where she delivered another standout performance. Holding a three-shot lead entering the final round, Yan battled through a challenging start before making three birdies on the back nine to finish at six-under-par 210 (67-70-73). She found herself in a playoff with fellow Iowa State teammate Nichakorn Pinprayoon, who matched Yan’s 54-hole total with a final-round 68.

On the first playoff hole, Yan made a clutch par on the par-4 18th to secure the championship and add another major title to her résumé. The victory earned her an exemption into the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, where she advanced to the Round of 64, gaining valuable experience against a national field.

Yan’s ability to deliver in both stroke-play and match-play formats distinguished her season. Her Iowa Women’s Amateur victory required resilience under pressure, while her run through the IGA Women’s Match Play bracket showcased her ability to build leads and close out opponents in head-to-head competition.

Those accomplishments proved decisive in the Player of the Year race. Yan finished 270 points ahead of runner-up Fiona Watson, who earned IGA Senior Player of the Year honors, to secure the women’s award.

With two of the IGA’s premier women’s championships in the same season, a historic achievement in Iowa golf and a run to the Round of 64 at the U.S. Women’s Amateur, Yan established herself as one of the standout performers in the state in 2026. Her remarkable summer earned her Iowa Golf Association Women’s Player of the Year recognition and added another milestone to her career as a member of the Iowa State women’s golf program.

Fiona Watson put together an exceptional 2026 season, earning Iowa Golf Association Senior Women’s Player of the Year honors after a campaign highlighted by three USGA championship appearances and a strong showing across the IGA Women’s Mid-Am Series. Watson’s accomplishments on both the state and national stages helped her edge Rose Kubesheski by just 45 points to claim the award.

Watson’s season was highlighted by qualifying for three prestigious USGA championships: the U.S. Women’s Senior Open, the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur and the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur. Her performance at the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur was particularly notable, as she advanced to match play as the No. 18 seed, demonstrating her ability to compete against a deep national field.

Alongside her success in national qualifying, Watson was a consistent contender in IGA Women’s Mid-Am Series competition. She captured victories in Event No. 1 and Event No. 3, winning the latter alongside partner Tish Boothe. Watson and Boothe also teamed up for a runner-up finish in Event No. 2, giving the duo an impressive record across the three-event series.

The combination of individual success, strong performances with Boothe and opportunities to compete on the national stage made Watson’s season one to remember. Her ability to qualify for three USGA championships while collecting two Mid-Am Series victories provided the foundation for her Player of the Year campaign.

The Senior Women’s Player of the Year race came down to a narrow margin, with Watson finishing just 45 points ahead of Kubesheski. In a competitive season-long race, her collection of accomplishments proved just enough to secure the honor.

With three USGA championship appearances, a match-play qualification at the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur and multiple victories in IGA Women’s Mid-Am Series play, Watson delivered an outstanding 2026 campaign. Her combination of national-level achievement and consistent state-level success earned her Iowa Golf Association Senior Women’s Player of the Year recognition.

Grant Smith has been named the Iowa Golf Association Men’s Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, capping another outstanding season with a dominant late-season stretch that separated him from the rest of the field.

After claiming the award in 2025, Smith continued to build on that success in 2026, earning four tournament victories and finishing the season strong to secure back-to-back honors. His four wins came between August and October, as he found his rhythm during the final months of the competitive calendar and pulled away from runner-up Nate McCoy by 55 points in the Player of the Year standings.

Smith captured titles at the Herman Sani Tournament, Iowa Mid-Amateur, Briarwood Amateur and The Classic. He also recorded a runner-up finish in the Open Division at the 2026 Waterloo Open and placed third at the Lake Creek Amateur, adding to an impressive collection of results throughout the season.

Beyond his tournament victories, Smith demonstrated his ability to compete at a high level in championship settings. He qualified for Final Qualifying for the U.S. Open and advanced to match play at the Iowa Golf Association Match Play Championship, further highlighting the breadth of his accomplishments in 2026.

The season did not begin exactly as Smith had hoped, by his own admission. However, he turned things around as the year progressed, building momentum and delivering his best golf when it mattered most. His four victories in the closing stretch of the season proved decisive in the Player of the Year race.

With four tournament titles, several other top finishes and a strong showing in major qualifying and match-play competition, Smith put together a memorable 2026 campaign. By successfully defending his title and finishing 55 points ahead of McCoy, Smith established himself as the Iowa Golf Association Men’s Player of the Year for the second straight season.

Jon Brown continued his remarkable run in Iowa senior golf in 2026, earning Iowa Golf Association Senior Player of the Year honors for the third consecutive season. After claiming the award in 2024 and 2025, Brown once again put together an impressive campaign to solidify his place among the state’s top senior players.

Brown’s 2026 season featured multiple victories, deep runs in championship match play and opportunities to compete on the national stage. He won the Senior Division of both the 89th Iowa Masters and the Briarwood Amateur, along with the Senior Division of the Northwest Amateur, showcasing his consistency across a variety of events.

Brown also made his presence felt in IGA championship competition. He finished runner-up at the IGA Match Play Championship and advanced to the semifinals of the IGA Senior Match Play Championship. In addition, he teamed with Chris Kramer to finish runner-up at the IGA Senior Four-Ball Championship, adding another strong performance to an already impressive season.

His accomplishments extended beyond Iowa as well. Brown qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur and earned a spot in Final Qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open, demonstrating his continued ability to compete for opportunities at the national level.

Brown’s combination of tournament victories, championship match-play success and national qualifying achievements helped him pull away in the Senior Player of the Year race. He finished 367.5 points ahead of runner-up Mike McCoy, a substantial margin that reflected the strength of his season.

With another year of outstanding results, Brown has now captured three consecutive Iowa Golf Association Senior Player of the Year awards. His 2026 campaign further cemented his standing as one of Iowa’s premier golfers and extended a remarkable stretch of sustained excellence in the sport.

Tony Malizia continued his dominance in Iowa’s Super Senior golf division in 2026, earning Iowa Golf Association Super Senior Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season. Following his award-winning campaign in 2025, Malizia delivered another exceptional year, highlighted by five tournament victories and a commanding lead in the Player of the Year standings.

Malizia’s 2026 season was defined by his ability to consistently contend and close out tournaments. Competing in the Super Senior Division, he captured titles at the IGA Senior Match Play Championship, Herman Sani Tournament, Northwest Amateur, Iowa Masters and Fort Dodge Amateur. His five victories showcased his consistency and ability to perform across a variety of competitive settings throughout the season.

In addition to his victories, Malizia recorded runner-up finishes at the Briarwood Amateur and the IGA Senior Four-Ball Championship, where he partnered with Tom Schill. Those results added to an already impressive season and further demonstrated his continued competitiveness against Iowa’s top Super Senior players.

Malizia’s accomplishments translated into a dominant performance in the Player of the Year race. He finished 545 points ahead of runner-up Tim Peters, establishing a substantial margin and leaving little doubt about his place atop the season’s standings.

With five tournament wins, two additional runner-up finishes and a second consecutive Player of the Year award, Malizia put together one of the standout campaigns in Iowa’s Super Senior division. His 2026 performance reinforced his position as a leading competitor in the state’s senior golf community and extended his run of success at the top of the IGA Super Senior Player of the Year standings.

Jonathan Ward put together an outstanding 2026 season to earn Iowa Golf Association Junior Boys’ Player of the Year honors, highlighted by a championship performance at the IGA Match Play Championship, a run to match play at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and a victory on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) circuit. Ward’s collection of results across state, national and junior tour competition helped him finish 492 points ahead of runner-up Parker Rodgers in the Player of the Year race.

Ward’s season featured success in a variety of formats and against strong competition. He captured the IGA Match Play Championship, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure in head-to-head competition. He also finished runner-up at the Iowa Junior Amateur Championship, continuing to establish himself among Iowa’s top junior golfers.

On the national stage, Ward qualified for match play at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, one of the premier events in junior golf. He also recorded a runner-up finish at the AJGA Maryville Junior and tied for second at the AJGA Renewal by Anderson Open, demonstrating his ability to contend against nationally competitive fields.

Ward closed out his season in impressive fashion with a victory at the AJGA Northwest Arkansas Junior. The win provided another highlight in a year marked by consistent high finishes and success across multiple levels of competition.

His season also included a tie for sixth at the Iowa Boys Junior PGA Championship and a tie for second at the 2025 Iowa High School State Championship, adding to an already strong résumé of junior golf accomplishments.

The breadth of Ward’s results proved decisive in the IGA Junior Boys’ Player of the Year standings. By combining an IGA championship title with success on the AJGA circuit and a match-play appearance at the U.S. Junior Amateur, he built a substantial lead and finished 492 points ahead of Rodgers.

With victories, runner-up finishes and national championship experience all contributing to his campaign, Ward delivered one of Iowa’s standout junior golf seasons in 2026. His accomplishments earned him Iowa Golf Association Junior Boys’ Player of the Year honors and recognized a year of sustained excellence across state and national competition.

Ainsley Wilson delivered an outstanding 2026 season to earn Iowa Golf Association Junior Girls’ Player of the Year honors, highlighted by a victory at the Iowa Junior Girls’ Amateur Championship, a runner-up finish at the PGA Girls’ Junior Championship and two wins in American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) competition. Wilson’s impressive results across state and national events helped her finish 1,117 points ahead of runner-up Jaylee Shaffer in the Player of the Year race.

Wilson’s season featured success against strong competition at every level. She captured the Iowa Junior Girls’ Amateur Championship, earning one of the premier titles in Iowa junior golf. She also finished third at the Iowa High School Class 4A State Championship and placed fifth at the Iowa Women’s Amateur, demonstrating her ability to compete against both junior and adult fields.

On the national stage, Wilson turned in a standout performance at the PGA Girls’ Junior Championship, finishing runner-up in a prestigious field of junior golfers. She also qualified for the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship, earning an opportunity to compete in one of the country’s premier junior events.

Wilson added to her impressive résumé with two AJGA victories during the season. She claimed the title at the Randy Wise Junior Open and followed it with another strong showing on the national junior circuit, highlighted by a tie for sixth at the AJGA Junior at Geneva, a tie for ninth at the AJGA Maryville Junior and a tie for seventh at AJGA Discover Austin Minnesota.

The combination of championship victories, high finishes and national qualifying success made Wilson a consistent contender throughout the season. Her runner-up finish at the PGA Girls’ Junior Championship, in particular, underscored her ability to compete with some of the top junior players in the country.

Wilson’s accomplishments translated into a commanding performance in the IGA Junior Girls’ Player of the Year standings. She finished 1,117 points ahead of Shaffer, securing the award by a substantial margin after a season filled with victories and notable finishes across multiple tours.

With a state junior championship, two AJGA victories, a runner-up finish at the PGA Girls’ Junior Championship and an appearance earned through U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur qualifying, Wilson put together a memorable 2026 campaign. Her success across Iowa and the national junior golf landscape earned her Iowa Golf Association Junior Girls’ Player of the Year honors.