Aliaga Holds On to Win 2026 NCAA Division III Arnold Palmer National Individual Champion Award
HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. -- Sebi Aliaga of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps claimed the 2026 NCAA Division III Arnold Palmer National Individual Champion Award this afternoon for earning medalist honors following the NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championship.
With numerous PING All-Region and fellow PING First Team All-America honorees trying to track him down on Friday, the freshman from Hillsborough, Calif., used a combined nine birdies to only one bogey and one eagle over the final two rounds to finish with a 10-under 277 (72-71-67-67) and his first collegiate victory by one stroke over Washington and Lee’s Jonathan McEwen. A member of the 2026 NCAA Division III National Champion Stags, Aliaga’s week also included a 24-hole bogey-free streak and 16 total birdies.
Aliaga is Claremont-Mudd-Scripps’ third Arnold Palmer National Individual Champion Award recipient, first since Bradley Shigezawa in 2013.
Previous Recipients
2025 - Eddie Coffren V, Lynchburg
2024 - Michael O’Sullivan, Oglethorpe
2023 - Josh Hebrink, Piedmont
2022 - Andre Chi, Methodist
2021 - Will Hocker, Webster
2019 - Sam Goldenring, Williams
2018 - Brian Peccie, Washington and Lee
2017 - Josh Gibson, Hope
2016 - Evan Cox, Virginia Wesleyan
2015 - Kelby Scharmann, La Verne
2014 - Bobby Holden, Redlands
2013 - Bradley Shigezawa, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
2012 - Anthony Maccaglia, Oglethorpe
2011 - Chris Morris, Centre
2010 - Tain Lee, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
2009 - Olafur Loftsson, Oglethorpe
2008 - Scott Harris Jr., St. John Fisher
2007 - Clinton Dammann, Saint John’s (MN)
2006 - Stephen Goodridge, Rochester
2005 - Colin Clark, Guilford
2004 - Chad Poling, Ohio Wesleyan
2003 - Janne Mommo, Averett
2002 - Chris Noll, Wesley
2001 - Chad Collins, Methodist
2000 - Kevin O’Connell, Greensboro
1999 - Chad Collins, Methodist
1998 - Chad Collins, Methodist
1997 - Brion McLaughlin, Methodist
1996 - Mike Adamson, Methodist
1995 - Ryan Jenkins, Methodist
1994 - Scott Scovil, Christopher Newport
1993 - Ryan Jenkins, Methodist
1992 - John Lindquist, Gustavus Adolphus
About the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation
The Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation continues the Palmer family’s mission to champion youth health and development. By continuing their efforts to ensure every child gets the opportunity to live a life well played — through support for nature-focused well-being and character development through golf — the foundation is committed to keeping the Palmer legacy at the forefront of the global conversation of golf and society at large. Learn more at palmerfoundation.org.