NORMAN, Okla.--- Stan State men's golfers Chase Bird and Riley Kirk have been named 2025-26 Cobalt Golf All-America Scholars, as announced Monday by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). Bird and Kirk were among 205 NCAA Division II student-athletes from 75 institutions to earn the prestigious academic honor.

The Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar award recognizes student-athletes who have demonstrated excellence both in the classroom and on the golf course.

To earn the honor, student-athletes must be a sophomore, junior or senior academically and athletically, maintain a cumulative career grade-point average of at least 3.20, compete in at least 50 percent of their team's competitive rounds, and meet division-specific scoring average requirements. NCAA Division II recipients must post a stroke average below 78.0 while also being of high moral character and in good standing with their institution.

Bird competed in 29 rounds during the 2025-26 season and posted a 75.8 adjusted scoring average. He appeared in all 10 of Stan State's stroke-play events and carded a season-best 67 during the second round of the Coyote Classic, where he was tied for sixth after 36 holes.

Kirk also competed in 29 rounds during the 2025-26 season, recording a 74.6 adjusted scoring average. He played in all 10 of the Warriors' stroke-play events and highlighted his season with an 11th-place finish at the Chico State Wildcat Classic. Kirk also recorded top 30 finishes at the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout and the CCAA Championships.

Bird and Kirk were also named to the 2025-26 Academic All-District Men's Golf Team and earned both Fall and Spring Honor Roll recognition. Bird was also inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society. Both were also named to the 2025-26 CCAA Winter/Spring Academic Honor Roll. In addition, Bird was joined by teammates Owen Bascom and Ethan Gonsalves on the 2025-26 CCAA All-Academic Team.

Stan State, coached by Brandon Christianson, was one of 75 NCAA Division II institutions to have student-athletes recognized as 2025-26 Cobalt Golf All-America Scholars. The Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) will announce the recipients of its 2025-26 PLATFORM Golf Team Academic Award on Wednesday, Aug. 5.