By: Adam Mackey, GCAA
NORMAN, Okla. — Ryan Voois of Illinois has been named the 2026 Byron Nelson Award recipient by the Salesmanship Club of Dallas and GCAA. Voois is the second consecutive Fighting Illini golfer to receive the award after Jackson Buchanan became the program’s first Byron Nelson Award recipient in 2025. Illinois is the first school to have consecutive Byron Nelson Award recipients since the award’s inception in 2002.
By earning the 2026 Byron Nelson Award, Voois also receives an exemption to play in the PGA TOUR’s THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson in 2027 at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.
“Receiving the Byron Nelson Award is incredibly meaningful because it recognizes success not just on the golf course but in the classroom and the community as well,” Voois said. “Throughout my life, I have been fortunate to have coaches, teammates, professors, donors, family members, and friends who have invested in me and helped shape who I am. This award reflects all of those people and the impact they have had on my journey.”
Voois graduated last month with a Bachelor of Science in finance and a 3.98 GPA. The Ladera Ranch, Calif., native led the Illini this season in stroke average (70.31), spring stroke average (70.29), average team finish (2.4), and tied for the team lead in top-10 finishes (five). The 70.31 is fourth-best in single-season program history. He finished inside the top 20 eight times in 2025-26, including a victory at the Hal Williams Collegiate on February 17. Voois shot a 15-under 195 (66-63-66) that included a career-low 63 (-7) during the second round and was the second-best 54-hole tournament score in program history, one stroke behind Buchanan. Improving his scoring average each season and finishing with the sixth-lowest career scoring average in program history (71.77), Voois earned PING All-Midwest Region each of his last three seasons (2024-26), First Team All-Big Ten in 2025 and 2026, and was a 2024 PING Honorable Mention All-American.
“Our entire program is thrilled to have Ryan Voois be this year’s Byron Nelson Award recipient,” said Illinois head coach Mike Small. “His successes both on the golf course and in the classroom, along with his efforts in the community, make him a very worthy and deserving recipient.
“It is extra special to have Ryan follow up last year’s winner, fellow Illini Jackson Buchanan! Having consecutive winners of this prestigious award makes it extra special for our team and the entire University of Illinois golf program.”
A three-time Spring Academic All-Big Ten honoree and two-time Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar, Voois involved himself immensely into the Illinois community. He served at the Eastern Illinois Foodbank all four years in Champaign, packing freezer boxes, sorting and organizing food, packing boxes to be shipped, and loading and unloading distribution trucks. He volunteered all four years with the Illinois DIA Holiday Cards for Kids, writing cards that go to kids in hospitals, families in need, homeless shelters, etc. With Cookies and Cards for Nurses and Strides Shelter this year, Voois teamed up with other student-athletes to deliver cookies and cards made for the nurses at Carle Hospital and packing daily necessities for residents at the shelter. Volunteering with the I Read I Count program organized by the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce for three years, Voois helped one elementary school student who is behind in reading or math for one hour at a time catch up by teaching developmental reading or math skills. With the DREAAM Love of Sports Shootout each of the last two years, Voois talked to classes about the value of education and the power of sports, refereed a basketball game, and helped organize a basketball practice. Voois also spent two years with the International Prep Academy in Champaign, volunteering during days like Field Day, playing with, supervising as they played, and tutoring kids in Spanish, and “La Caminata”, a walkathon-type event where the school raises money through donations and pledges for student actives and school programs. With the Tinervin Family Foundation from 2022-24, Voois sorted and packed 500 boxes containing non-perishable food items and loaded them onto delivery trucks. He also volunteered during the University of Illinois’ Campus Walk for Suicide Awareness, gathering signs, food, and spirit to heighten suicide awareness while walking around the university’s campus.
Before enrolling at Illinois, Voois was a junior coach for First Tee – Orange County. He was a student in the program and thoroughly enjoyed giving back and making an impact on kids’ lives by volunteering as a coach and educator.
“What I admire most about Byron Nelson is the way he used his platform to serve others and make a positive difference in the lives of those around him,” continued Voois. “As I embark on my professional golf journey, that is something I aspire to do as well. Receiving this award is an incredible honor and a reminder of the responsibility I have to continue giving back and helping others in the same way so many people have helped me.”
About the Byron Nelson Award
Awarded annually since 2002, the purpose of the Byron Nelson Award is to select the outstanding Division I, II, III, or NAIA scholar-athlete of the year. The recipient, a graduating senior, is recognized for their achievement in the classroom, on the course, and in their community.
Previous Recipients
2026 – Ryan Voois, Illinois
2025 – Jackson Buchanan, Illinois
2024 – Christo Lamprecht, Georgia Tech
2023 – David Nyfjäll, Northwestern
2022 – William Knauth, Carnegie Mellon
2021 – Mac Meissner, SMU
2020 – John Murphy, Louisville
2019 – Ryan Lumsden, Northwestern
2018 – Matthew Perrine, Baylor
2017 – Maverick McNealy, Stanford
2016 – Stephen Behr Jr., Clemson
2015 – Anders Albertson, Georgia Tech
2014 – Brandon Hagy, California
2013 – Brinson Paolini, Duke
2012 – James White, Georgia Tech
2011 – Cyril Bouniol, Abilene Christian
2010 – Brendan Gielow, Wake Forest
2009 – Mike Van Sickle, Marquette
2008 – Nathaniel James, Washington and Lee
2007 – Roberto Castro, Georgia Tech
2007 – Sam Korbe, Tulsa
2006 – Zack Robinson, Oklahoma State
2005 – Michael Putnam, Pepperdine
2004 – Billy Hurley III, Navy
2003 – Troy Matteson, Georgia Tech
2002 – Jason Allred, Pepperdine
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