NORMAN, Okla. – Three University of West Florida men's golfers were named to the 2026 NCAA Division II PING All-America Teams, the Golf Coaches Association of America announced.
Cooper Tendick earned First Team All-America honors, while
Per Ekelund and
TJ Thompson received Honorable Mention recognition.
The GCAA began naming NCAA Division II All-Americans in 1975, with PING sponsoring the award since at least 1991. For Division II, the First Team consists of eight golfers (nine if the individual national champion wasn't already named to the First Team), eight on the Second Team, eight on the Third Team, and at least 16 earn Honorable Mention All-America honors. Automatic additions from GCAA member schools to Honorable Mention if not previously named include top-15 finishers at the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship, the top two players in each All-Region ballot, and NCAA Division II Regional Medalists.
Tendick recorded seven top-10 finishes across 12 tournaments, including six finishes inside the top five. He captured the NCAA South/Southeast Regional individual championship after completing the 54-hole event at 15-under par. He also placed second at the First Federal Southeastern Collegiate, Bobcat Invitational and Argonaut Invitational, while adding a third-place finish at the UNG Mizuno Intercollegiate. Tendick finished fifth at the Gulf South Conference Championship, carding a 5-under score across three rounds. He also placed sixth at the Las Vegas Desert Classic before concluding the season at the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship.
Ekelund earned Honorable Mention All-America recognition after recording five top-10 finishes, including three top-five performances. He captured the individual championship at the Copperhead Championship, completing the tournament at 5-under par. He added a third-place finish at the Matlock Collegiate Classic at 7-under and placed fourth at the Gulf South Conference Championship with a 6-under score. Ekelund also finished sixth at the Las Vegas Desert Classic and ninth at the First Federal Southeastern Collegiate. He closed the season by leading West Florida at the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship, tying for 18th after finishing the tournament at 5-under.
Thompson received Honorable Mention recognition after posting four top-10 finishes, including three results inside the top five. His best finish came at the Copperhead Championship, where he placed second with a 4-under score. He added a fourth-place finish at the Matlock Collegiate Classic at 6-under and placed fifth at the GSC Championship after completing the tournament at 5-under. Thompson also finished seventh at the Fripp Island to Bermuda Invite and delivered three consecutive under-par performances during the postseason. He placed 15th at the NCAA South/Southeast Regional at 3-under before concluding the year in 35th at the NCAA Championship with a 2-under score.
The trio helped lead West Florida to six tournament victories during the 2025-26 season. The Argonauts captured their fourth consecutive and 22nd overall Gulf South Conference championship, earned the top seed in the NCAA South/Southeast Regional and advanced to the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship.
