Barlow Announces Addition of Naik for 2025-26 Season
7/15/2025 11:25:00 AM | Men's Golf
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan men's golf head coach Zach Barlow announced Tuesday (July 15) the signing of 2025 NCAA Division III All-American Nilay Naik to a Big Ten Athletic Scholarship Agreement. Naik will have sophomore standing after playing his freshman season at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif.
Naik gives the Wolverines four newcomers for the 2025-26 season. During the November signing period, Barlow announced the signings of Jordan Hwang, Jack Harrington and Tristan Wieland.
"I am very excited for the opportunity to join the University of Michigan," said Naik. "After speaking with both Coach Barlow and Coach (Matt) Hoffman, it was immediately clear that we shared similar long-term goals. I cannot wait to be part of this young team and see what we can achieve."
"Nilay had a wonderful opening to his collegiate career," said Barlow. "Having played with Jack (Harrington) throughout his high school and junior career in Oregon, we were able to get a feel for how Nilay plays and would fit within our culture, program and goals. Needless to say, we are thrilled to bring him to Ann Arbor."
Last season, Naik earned Golf Coaches Association of America/PING Division III All-America honorable mention honors after a stellar freshman campaign at Pomona College under John Wurzer. Starting eight of nine events, Naik led the Sagehens with a 71.70 scoring average, posting nine sub-par rounds, including five sub-70.
Earning Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year and All-SCIAC first-team honors, he led Pomona to six top-three team finishes, including two team titles --- at the SCIAC #2 (April 5-6) and at the La Verne vs. Pomona (April 13). He paced the Sagehens in four events, winning two individual titles -- SCIAC #2 (139, -5; 67-72) and the West Coast Classic (143, -1; 73-70). He closed with a fifth-place showing at the SCIAC Championships with his career-low 208, -8 (68-72-68) total.
With GCAA/PING Division III All-Region and All-Freshman Team accolades, Naik earned a trip to the NCAA Division III national championship; however, he did not make the first cut despite a second-round rally with a 71 (-1). He finished the season ranked 27th nationally for Division III golfers.
During his prep career, he attended Lakeridge High School, where he was named the 2024 Three Rivers League Player of the Year and a two-time TRL first-team (2023, '24) selection. He made two appearances to the Oregon School Activities Association Class 6A State Finals, earning a third-place finish in 2024 (73-73/146) and tying for 12th in 2023 (75-76/151). He added the TRL District title in 2024 with a 137, -7 (66-71) total.
In junior play, Naik won the Oregon Junior Amateur Championship. After tying for third in qualifying, he advanced to the championship and defeated Drew Woolworth (4&3). With the win, he earned an invitation to the U.S. Junior Amateur, but he missed the cut for match play (74-74/148).
Recently, he advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2025 Oregon Amateur. After runner-up (137, -7) honors in qualifying, he advanced to the Elite Eight before falling to eventual champion Zach Foushee (4&3).
Pronunciation
• Last name: "nee-lay"
• Last name: "nie-ick" (nie sounds like pie)
• Wolverines Add Trio of Signees During Early Period (11/13/2024)
