Missouri Valley’s Stephen Main, Felipe Suarez Named NAIA National Award Finalists
Two members of the Missouri Valley College men's golf program have earned national recognition as finalists for major NAIA awards following a standout 2025-26 season.
Head coach Stephen Main was named one of five finalists for the 2026 NAIA Dave Williams Coach of the Year Award presented by Golf Pride Grips, while Felipe Suarez was selected as one of five finalists for the 2026 NAIA Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award presented by Workday.
Main guided the Vikings to one of the best seasons in program history in his third year as Director of Golf Operations. Missouri Valley enters the NAIA Men's Golf National Championship ranked No. 7 nationally after winning seven of its last nine tournaments, including the 2026 Heart Men's Golf Championship by 12 strokes.
The Vikings also carry a four-tournament, 61-stroke winning streak into nationals and posted a program-record 50-under 814 at the MVC Fall Invitational earlier this season. Missouri Valley's seven team victories came by a combined 129 strokes.
Main also earned 2026 Heart Men's Golf Coach of the Year honors.
Suarez has been one of the top golfers in the NAIA throughout the season, earning both Heart Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors.
The Córdoba, Argentina native recorded eight top-two finishes in 10 tournaments this season with six individual victories. Suarez won the 2026 Heart Men's Golf Championship by four strokes and produced a four-tournament, 23-stroke winning streak during the year.
He enters the national championship with a 69.6 adjusted scoring average and is ranked fourth nationally via Scoreboard Powered by Clippd.
Both finalists are competing this week at the 2026 NAIA Men's Golf National Championship at TPC Deere Run.
The winner of the Jack Nicklaus Award will be announced June 7 during the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday.
For complete information on both national awards and all finalists, see below:
Finalists Announced for Dave Williams Coach of the Year Award