South Florida’s Peacock Repeats as American Player of the Year; Rice’s Zou Named American Freshman of the Year

IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference announced its 2025 men’s golf awards on Tuesday, with South Florida and Rice earning top individual honors and Charlotte’s Ryan Cabbage recognized as Coach of the Year. The awards were determined by a vote of the conference’s 11 men’s golf head coaches.

South Florida’s Jake Peacock became the first golfer in American Athletic Conference history to repeat as Player of the Year, while Rice’s Daniel Zou was named Freshman of the Year, marking the Owls’ first Freshman of the Year honor. Charlotte’s Ryan Cabbage claimed his first Coach of the Year award after leading the 49ers to a conference title.

Peacock, currently ranked No. 40 in NCAA Division I by Clippd, secured his second straight Player of the Year honor after winning the 2025 American Individual Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Members Club in Sarasota, Florida. He shot a 14-under 202 to capture the title by two strokes. Over the season, the senior posted a scoring average of 68.4 across 27 rounds, notching two tournament wins and three top-three finishes.

Zou capped a standout freshman season with an 11th-place finish at the 2025 American Men’s Golf Championship, shooting 7-under 209. He averaged 71.0 over 33 rounds and claimed his first collegiate victory at the Bayou City Collegiate Classic.

Cabbage guided Charlotte to its first American Men’s Golf Championship and a No. 41 national ranking in the Clippd standings. The 49ers shot 35-under 829 at the conference tournament and captured the title in a thrilling double playoff.

In all, 13 players from seven member institutions earned all-conference honors. Ten players were selected through a vote of the conference’s head coaches, while three additional players who finished among the top seven (and ties) at the 2025 American Men’s Golf Championship were also recognized. South Florida and Charlotte each placed three golfers on the all-conference list, followed by Memphis and Rice with two selections apiece. Florida Atlantic and Wichita State each had one player honored.
2025 American Athletic Conference Men’s Golf Awards

Player of the Year

Jack Peacock, Sr., South Florida

Freshman of the Year

Daniel Zou, Rice

Coach of the Year

Ryan Cabbage, Charlotte

All-Conference

Daniel Boone, So., Charlotte

Seb Cave, So., Charlotte

Justin Matthews, Jr., Charlotte

NaShawn Tyson, So., Florida Atlantic

Diego Lourenco, So., Memphis

Yixiang Wang, So., Memphis