Leng Named to Preseason Watch List

STANFORD, Calif. — Having secured one of the best summer runs in Stanford men’s golf history, Jay Leng has been tabbed to the 2026-27 Haskins Award presented by Stifel Preseason Watch List, the Haskins Foundation announced on Thursday. 

Leng joins the 25-member watch list after a spectacular summer season that saw the junior slide up to 12th overall in the latest World Amateur Golf Ranking’s (WAGR). Leng, who finished his summer with a runner-up finish at the U.S. Amateur, grabbed four top-five placements this summer including a win at The Western Amateur. 

Having secured the win at The Western Amateur, Leng accrued enough points with a runner-up finish at the Northeast Amateur and a fifth place outing at the Southern Amateur to grab the 2026 Elite Amateur Cup Title, a series that combines WAGR performance points through the seven men’s amateur championships into a standings-based race. With the win, Leng secured multiple PGA TOUR and 2027 U.S. Open Championships Final Qualifying exemptions. For his prowess this summer, Leng was also named to the 10-golfer squad for the 2026 U.S. Walker Cup team and will compete at the 51st Walker Cup at Lahinch in the Republic of Ireland from September 5-6. 

Leng becomes the first Cardinal to be named to the watch list since Michael Thorbjornsen and Karl Vilips were named to the list before the 2023-24 season. As a sophomore, Leng posted a 70.96 scoring average over 36 rounds and was named both PING All-West Region and All-ACC. The San Diego, Calif., native also posted 11 top-20 finishes and placed inside the top 10 on four occasions.

Beginning in 1971, the Fred Haskins Award is annually given to the top male U.S. collegiate D1 golfer as voted on by players, coaches, members of the college golf media, and past Haskins Award winners. Past winners of the Haskins Award have captured 33 major championships and more than 400 professional tournaments around the world. Named in honor of Fred Haskins, the award is managed by the Haskins Foundation to acknowledge the top male golfer at the end of the season and to match the ANNIKA Award, which acknowledges the top female Division I collegiate golfer.

Stifel, one of the nation’s leading wealth management and investment banking firms, serves as the presenting sponsor of both the ANNIKA and Haskins Awards. Stifel also serves as a presenting sponsor for the NCAA Division I Women’s and Men’s Golf Championships on GOLF Channel.