Purdue Fort Wayne Men’s Golf Receives 2026 Bobby Fong Award

April 13

Rachel White

INDIANAPOLIS (April 13, 2026) – Purdue Fort Wayne men’s golf has been named this year’s recipient of our Bobby Fong Award.

The Bobby Fong Award is given to the student-athlete or team that best represents the Horizon League and our core values of integrity, respect and stewardship. The award is named after the late Bobby Fong who served as the President of Butler University from 2001-11.

Major Voices:
Horizon League Interim Commissioner Chris Neuman

“The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s golf team has clearly made a major impact on campus and in the Fort Wayne community through numerous service projects and consistent contributions to others. The program is an incredible example of our core values of integrity, respect and stewardship and truly honors President Fong’s legacy.”

Bobby Fong’s Widow Suzanne Fong

“Congratulations to the Mastodon Men's Golf Team! They live the integrity, hard work, sportsmanship and courage honored by the Bobby Fong award. He would be proud of them all, as am I.”

Purdue Fort Wayne Men’s Golf Head Coach Billy King

"I'm extremely proud of the team and the culture these guys have created. They've always been leaders on campus and in the community by treating others first, and this is a great recognition of that. They understand there's a lot of things more important than golf, and I'm proud to be the coach of such a great group of guys. They make it fun to come to work every day."

Purdue Fort Wayne Sport Administrator Ashley Malone

"The men’s golf program continues to set the gold standard for what it means to be a Mastodon student-athlete. Whether it is maintaining the highest team GPA in our department for five consecutive years or the extraordinary heroism shown by AJ Agnew and Landon Smith, these young men embody the core values of integrity, respect and stewardship in every facet of their lives. They don't just represent Purdue Fort Wayne on the leaderboard; they represent us through their character, their service to the community, and their unwavering commitment to doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. As always, I’m proud to call them Mastodons.

Purdue Fort Wayne Athletic Director Kelley Hartley Hutton

"Our men's golf program consistently exemplifies what the Bobby Fong Award is all about. Head coach Billy King has nurtured a team culture in which integrity, respect and stewardship are the standard. I am extremely proud of our men's golf team for earning this prestigious award."

Purdue Fort Wayne Student-Athlete Nick Holder

"This honor goes to show the culture and atmosphere that we've built around our team. That's something that we and coach King have been proud of and haven't taken lightly since I've been here. It's a huge honor to be recognized by the league for how we treat ourselves and others. We take a lot of pride carrying ourselves that way on and off the course."

Purdue Fort Wayne Student-Athlete Brock Reschly

"This award represents the culture we have on our team and it's something we are very proud of. There are a lot of things in the world that are more important than golf and coach King has created an environment where we understand how important these values are. We strive to carry ourselves as best as we can on the course, in the classroom, and throughout life."

Dig Deeper:

Purdue Fort Wayne Men’s Golf played a prominent role in returning a university recognized FCA chapter to the institution and members of the team continue to serve the chapter in leadership capacities.
Student-athletes AJ Agnew and Landon Smith saved the life of a man experiencing a medical emergency that caused his car to drive off the road and into a pond in October 2025. AJ and Landon ran out of their own vehicle, jumped into the pond and pulled the man out of the car to safety before it could sink beneath the water.
- As a result of their heroic action, they were presented with “Fire Chief Recognition Award” certificates and challenge coins. This award is presented to “fire department members, civilian or sworn, who go above and beyond, or provide an undeniable example of servant leadership.” Mayor Sharon Tucker also awarded AJ and Landon her own challenge coins.
Brock Reschly works on the media services staff to provide high-level game day experiences for all while Nick Bellush works in the equipment room to ensure all gear is distributed and cared for equally for all student-athletes.
The team is consistently present in the greater Fort Wayne community volunteering their time for various local organizations and events, including DuPont Hospital Love Light Shine Bright, Coats for Kids, Purdue Fort Wayne Fitness Day, DSANI Buddy Walk and Rock Your School Day.
The men’s golf program has had the highest team GPA within Mastodon Athletics for the last five years, posting a 3.70 in 2024-25, demonstrating their strong commitment to their academics.
As Butler’s President, Dr. Fong served on the Horizon League Board of Directors from 2001-2011, including a term as its chair. Dr. Fong’s decade as the President of Butler University was marked by a new core curriculum and improved campus-community relationships. Under his watch, Butler sustained an athletic program distinguished by its balance between academic achievement and competitive excellence.
Bobby Fong Award Winners
- 2016- Elena Popkey, Oakland Women’s Basketball
- 2017- Sami Rutowski, Northern Kentucky Women’s Soccer
- 2018- Northern Kentucky Baseball
- 2019- Karissa Frazier, UIC Softball
- 2020- Alyssa Fischer, Milwaukee Women’s Basketball
- 2021- Kayla Thompson, Northern Kentucky Track & Field
- 2022- Lauryn Hicks, Northern Kentucky Softball
- 2023- Green Bay Volleyball
- 2024- Sam Slimak, IUPUI Women’s Soccer
- 2025- Lydia Self, Northern Kentucky Women’s Soccer
- 2026- Purdue Fort Wayne Men’s Golf