National champions have been crowned in men’s collegiate golf dating to 1897.
The Intercollegiate Golf Association, which was later re-named as the National Intercollegiate Golf Association, sponsored the season-end tournament from 1897-1938.
In that time frame, Yale dominated, earning 20 NIGA titles from 1897-1936, including nine consecutive from 1905-1913. The Bulldogs’ lone NCAA Championship came in 1943. Ivy League-rival Princeton has 11 NIGA titles of their own, dominating the 1920s. They as well have just one NCAA title (1940). Harvard also won six in seven years from 1898-1904, and Michigan won consecutive titles in 1934-35.
For the last 81 years, starting in 1939, the NCAA has assumed responsibility. Thirty schools have won NCAA titles, including 15 multi-time winners. That begs the question: Who has the most?
Houston
Number of titles: 16
Years won: 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1977, 1982, 1984, 1985
Notable past players: Fuzzy Zoeller, Fred Couples, Steve Elkington, Bruce Lietzke, John Mahaffey, Bill Rogers, Blaine McCallister, Billy Ray Brown and Jim Nantz (yes, that Jim Nantz).
The first dynasty in the NCAA era, Houston won each of its 16 titles in a 29-year period, but has yet to win in the last 35 years.
Oklahoma State
Number of titles: 11
Years won: 1963, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2006, 2018
Notable past players: Rickie Fowler, Bob Tway, Hunter Mahan, Scott Verplank, Charles Howell III, Kevin Tway, Matthew Wolff and Viktor Hovland
You can’t talk about men’s college golf for long without mentioning the Cowboys from Stillwater. The Oklahoma State men have qualified for the NCAA Championship 72 times in the last 73 years (didn’t qualify in 2012), and have national titles in each of the last six decades.
Stanford
Stanford
Number of titles: Eight (1 NIGA title, 1938)
Years won: 1939, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1953, 1994, 2007, 2019
Notable past players: Tiger Woods, Tom Watson, Notah Begay, Bob Rosburg, Lawson Little, Patrick Rodgers, Maverick McNealy
Winning in collegiate golf is hard, especially at an institution with difficult academic requirements like Stanford. Despite those challenges, the Cardinal have been competitive for decades and have been a pipeline for professional players. When you think of Stanford men’s golf, the first thought is Tiger Woods, and for good reason. But don’t forget about other major winners and Cardinal alums Tom Watson, Bob Rosburg and Lawson Little.
Florida
Number of titles: Five
Years won: 1968, 1973, 1993, 2001, 2023
Notable past players: Chris DiMarco, Billy Horschel, Tommy Aaron, Mark Calcavecchia, Andy North, Doug Sanders, Fred Biondi
Sixteen team conference champions. Sixteen individual conference champions. Three individual national champions and five team titles. The Gators are winners, and even captured the individual and team title in 2023 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.
LSU
Number of titles: Five
Years won: 1940, 1942, 1947, 1955, 2015
Notable past players: David Toms, Jay Hebert, Gardner Dickinson, Fred Haas
While LSU’s success on a national level has been scarce since the 1950s, their 2015 title was a reminder of just how solid the program truly is. The Tigers have won 16 conference titles in the talent-heavy SEC and consistently qualify for the NCAA Championship, appearing in eight of the last 10.
North Texas
Number of titles: Four
Years won: 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952
Notable past players: Carlos Ortiz, Rodolfo Cazaubon, Mike McCaffrey
The Mean Green dominated college golf in the late 1940s and early 50s, winning four consecutive national titles. While they haven’t won the big one in 67 years, North Texas has competed in the NCAA Championship 35 times, with 16 top-10 finishes.
Texas
Number of titles: Four
Years won: 1971, 1972, 2012, 2022
Notable past players: Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Justin Leonard, Jordan Spieth, David Gossett, Bob Estes, Scottie Scheffler and Brandel Chamblee
One word describes the men’s program at Texas: tradition. Back-to-back national titles in 1971 and 1972, a third in 2012 and four runner-up finishes don’t tell the whole story. The Longhorns boast 47 conference titles and a who’s who list of amateur and professional stars.
Wake Forest
Number of titles: Three
Years won: 1974, 1975, 1986
Notable past players: Arnold Palmer, Lanny Wadkins, Jay Haas, Billy Andrade, Bill Haas, Curtis Strange, Webb Simpson, Cameron Young, Will Zalatoris
When your program boasts one of the greatest to ever swing a club, you’re doing something right. Along with consecutive team titles in 1974-75, individual champions Curtis Strange (’74) and Jay Haas (’75) helped put the Demon Deacons on the map and despite not winning since 1986, they’re always in the hunt. Jay’s brother, Jerry, has been the head coach since 1997.
Two titles
Alabama
Years won: 2013, 2014
Arizona State
Years won: 1990, 1996
Augusta
Years won: 2010, 2011
Georgia
Years won: 1999, 2005
Pepperdine
Years won: 1997, 2021
Ohio State
Years won: 1945, 1979
Oklahoma
Years won: 1989, 2017
UCLA
Years won: 1988, 2008
One title
Arizona, 1992
BYU, 1981
California, 2004
Clemson, 2003
Minnesota, 2002
Notre Dame, 1944
Oregon, 2016
Purdue, 1961
San Jose State, 1948
SMU, 1954
Texas A&M, 2009
UNLV, 1998
