“It is a pretty cool thing to be a part of such an awesome and historic tournament,” Akina said. “It’s always cool when you have the chance to be able to represent and play for your country, so I’m excited to represent in Ireland. Mr. Palmer was one of the greatest golfers to live, and what he’s done for the game and this tournament is really cool to see. I just feel really grateful and excited.”

Akina’s No. 6 rank on NCAA Scoreboard player rankings helped him earn his selection, making him one of 11 U.S. players to qualify for the team automatically. The freshman boasted a 68.92 scoring average in 12 events this season. One other player got chosen for the coach’s pick to round out the top-12 American collegiate representatives for the team.

“I was privileged enough to serve on the GCAA committee when the Arnold Palmer Cup was put in place,” head coach Bruce Brockbank said. “Anything that has Arnold Palmer’s name attached to it is special. This is the premiere US-international competition, so to be selected on that team, you have to be one of the best college golfers in the country. That is Kihei. I’m super proud of him and the golfer he has become. He will do great representing our country and BYU. I hope he continues his hot stretch that he has been having.””

Akina joined  Peter Kuest  (2019),  Clay Ogden  (2006) and  Andy Miller  (2000) as one of four BYU golfers named into the Arnold Palmer Cup, all of whom represented the U.S. Akina was the only American freshman selected, the first freshman in program history to play in this prestigious tournament, and one of 26 freshmen ever to be selected for team USA.

In addition, Golfweek, Golf Channel and The Back of the Range has selected Akina to the 2025-26 Fred Haskins Award Postseason Watchlist presented by Stifel.

The Haskins Award is presented annually to the most outstanding male collegiate golfer in the United States. Named in honor of golf teaching professional Fred Haskins, the award was first presented in 1971. Former Cougar great Bobby Clampett won the award in 1979 and 1980, and Peter Kuest (2020), Rick Fehr (1984) and Keith Clearwater (1982) were named as finalists.

Akina won two tournaments during his 2025-26 campaign. The R.E. Lamkin and Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational titles came in back-to-back fashion. On his way to a 68.92 scoring average, the freshman recorded two runner-up finishes, seven top-5 finishes and 10 top-10 finishes in 12 tournaments this season. Akina currently sits No. 6 in NCAA Scoreboard player rankings and No. 29 on World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).

Akina was the only freshman out of 15 men’s golfers selected to the list, and one of two Big 12 players. Oklahoma State’s Preston Stout, winner of the Big 12 Championship, made an appearance.

The top-10 finalists for this honor will be announced Friday, May 22. The voting window for the winner will be opened from then until June 1 at the conclusion of the stroke play in the NCAA Championship. In addition, Haskins Honors will be held at Grand Blanc Maison on Wednesday, May 27 for the 10 finalists and their coach, hosted by the Haskins Foundation.

Cougar pitching stifles Rebels

LAS VEGAS  — BYU defeated UNLV 5-2 on Tuesday evening in a nonconference midweek game at Earl E. Wilson Baseball Stadium. Nine Cougar pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts, the second-highest total of the season.

BYU (24-23, 12-12) scored five runs on nine hits and had at least one runner on base in eight of its nine at bats. Meanwhile, UNLV (26-21, 7-11) had nine hits while stranding 13 runners.

“I thought our pitchers did a great job,” said BYU head baseball coach  Trent Pratt. “We threw a bunch of guys tonight that haven’t pitched a lot recently, and I was proud of the way they were ready when they came in to pitch.”

Ryder Robinson went 3-for-4 with a double, Bryker Hurdsman drove in a pair of runs and Luke Sterner struck out six batters in just two innings of work for the Cougars.

BYU got on the scoreboard first with one run in the top of the second inning. Tu’a Wolfgramm led off the inning with a single. He later stole third and scored on a passed ball for 1-0 advantage. UNLV responded in the bottom half of the second with a leadoff home run to tie the game at 1-1.

After four scoreless innings by both clubs, BYU regained the lead with four runs in the top of the seventh.  Hurdsman singled to left to score Ezra McNaughton and Robinson for a 3-1 advantage. A passed ball moved Jones and Hurdsman up a base, where Crew McChesney drove Jones home with a single to right field. One batter later, Hurdsman scored on a passed ball for a 5-1 lead.

UNLV picked up another run in the bottom of the eighth on three singles and a wild pitch, but senior  Luke Sterner  struck out three Rebels to get out of the inning and preserve a 5-2 BYU advantage.

Junior right-hander  Dan Brousseau  (3-0) pitched a perfect sixth inning, facing three batters with two strikeouts for the win, while freshman  Tyler Ball  faced the minimum three batters in the ninth for the first save of his BYU career.

BYU heads to Lubbock, Texas, for the final Big 12 regular-season road trip of the year against Texas Tech, May 7-9, at Rip Griffin Park. All three games of the BYU-TT series will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and on the BYU Radio app, BYUradio.org, SiriusXM 143 and 107.9 FM in Utah County.

Utah subdues UVU baseball, 9-5

SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah defeated Utah Valley University, 9-5, on Tuesday night at Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark.

UVU (15-32) was led by Chipper Beck, who finished 3-for-4, while Trenton Rowan went 2-for-2 and reached base in all three of his plate appearances. Utah (24-19) hit five home runs in the game, led by Luke Jacobs, who homered twice.

With two outs in the fourth, Rowan doubled to right field before Joseph Barnhardt  hit a two-run home run over to close the UVU deficit to 6-4.

Garrett Miller  tossed 1 1/3 innings, including holding the Utes scoreless in the bottom of the third with three groundouts.  Utah added a run in both the fourth and fifth innings to extend the lead to 8-4.

The Wolverines had two runners on in the eighth inning, with Cooper Brass drawing a walk and Rowan reaching on a single, when Barnhardt was called out on a check swing. Jacob Beltran pitched the eighth for the Wolverines and worked around a couple of Utah baserunners to keep them scoreless. In the ninth, the Wolverines put two in scoring position following a single by Block and a double from former Ute, Carpenter, with one out in the ninth to extend his hitting streak to four games. UVU made it 9-5 on a sac fly from Mason Strong, but the Utes held on for the win.

Utah Valley returns to WAC play this weekend for a three-game series against Abilene Christian. First pitch is set for Friday, May 8 at 5:05 p.m. MT / 6:05 p.m. CT.

UVU softball places six on All-WAC team

ARLINGTON, Texas — Utah Valley’s Britney Moreno was named the WAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-WAC, headlining a program-record six Wolverines who earned All-League honors as the WAC announced its postseason awards on Tuesday.

Joining Moreno on the first team is middle infield partner Tatum Hall, who earned the first All-WAC honors of her career.

Ry Binne, Lily Riley, and Amber Rodriguez were named to the All-WAC second team, and Angelique Mann earned All-Defensive Team accolades.

Moreno, a senior from La Habra, Calif., saved her best season for last, posting new career bests in essentially every offensive category. Moreno set a new program single-season record for triples with eight — ranking second in the nation entering the week — while also setting new career highs in home runs, doubles, hits, runs, and RBIs. Her 72 hits are the second-most in a single season in the D-I era behind only Madison Carr’s 82 in 2022.

Hall, a sophomore from Spanish Fork, Utah, posted arguably the best offensive season by a left-handed batter in program history, recording the most home runs and RBIs and the best slugging percentage by a lefty in the full-status era (since 2010). Hall enters the WAC Tournament needing two more RBIs to set the overall single-season record, currently held by Brittney Vansway with 52.