Trio Named GCAA Cobalt Golf All-America Scholars
8/3/2026 1:00:00 PM | Men's Golf
NORMAN, Okla. -- University of Michigan men's golfers RJ Arone, Nilay Naik and Nicolas Simon were named 2025-26 Golf Coaches Association of America Cobalt Golf All-American Scholars, the organization announced Monday (Aug. 3).
The trio brings Michigan's all-time total to 40 GCAA All-America Scholar honorees, including 18 under head coach Zach Barlow. The Big Ten had 53 of the more than 600 golfers recognized nationwide.
The honor caps another outstanding academic year for the Wolverines. Arone, Naik and Simon each earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition, while Arone and Naik also were named Big Ten Distinguished Scholars.
Arone wrapped up one of the best individual seasons in program history, leading the Wolverines with a 70.46 scoring average, the second-lowest single-season average in school history. He posted seven top-20 finishes, including four top-10 showings, and opened the year by winning the Island Resort Intercollegiate while setting Michigan's 54-hole scoring record at 17-under-par 196. Following the collegiate season, Arone advanced to match play at the prestigious North & South Amateur and finished runner-up at the Southern Nevada Amateur.
Naik once again provided a steady presence in Michigan's lineup, competing in every event and finishing with a 72.13 scoring average. He recorded four top-20 finishes during the season and helped the Wolverines post four top-four team finishes. During the summer, he advanced to the championship match of the Pacific Northwest Amateur after earning the No. 2 seed following stroke play.
Simon earned his first GCAA All-America Scholar honor after competing in every event for the Wolverines during the 2025-26 season. He helped Michigan produce one of its best fall campaigns in recent memory, highlighted by a school-record 42-under-par performance at the Island Resort Intercollegiate, a runner-up finish at the Canadian Collegiate Invitational and a fourth-place showing at the Fighting Irish Classic.
To be eligible for GCAA Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar honors, student-athletes must be sophomores, juniors or seniors academically and athletically, compete in at least 50 percent of their team's competitive rounds, maintain a stroke average below 76.0, carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.2 or higher, and be in good academic and athletic standing.
