Chase Bird and Riley Kirk from Stan State men's golf have earned 2025-26 Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar honors, as confirmed by the Golf Coaches Association of America. The award acknowledges student-athletes who excel both academically and athletically, with only 205 recipients selected from 75 institutions. To qualify, student-athletes must be sophomores or above, maintain a GPA of at least 3.20, and meet specific performance metrics on the course. Bird competed in 29 rounds with a scoring average of 75.8, while Kirk had a 74.6 average in the same number of rounds. Both players also received additional academic accolades, highlighting their dual commitment to sports and studies.

By the Numbers
  • Bird: 29 rounds played, 75.8 adjusted scoring average.
  • Kirk: 29 rounds played, 74.6 adjusted scoring average.
State of Play
  • Stan State golfers Bird and Kirk are part of a select group recognized for their academic and athletic achievements.
  • The GCAA's announcement spotlights the commitment of NCAA Division II athletes to maintain high standards in both areas.
What's Next

The GCAA will announce the 2025-26 PLATFORM Golf Team Academic Award recipients on August 5, revealing more about overall academic performance among NCAA Division II participants.

Bottom Line

Bird and Kirk's recognition as All-America Scholars underscores the importance of balancing athletic performance with academic excellence, reaffirming the values upheld by NCAA Division II athletes.