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USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Auburn's Jackson Koivun earns PGA Tour card after top-10 finish at NCAA Men's Golf Championship
Auburn's Jackson Koivun earns PGA Tour card after top-10 finish at NCAA Men's Golf Championship Show Caption Hide Caption Drone flyover video of Omni La Costa North Course par-3 16th hole Omni La Costa is hosting the NCAA mens and womens golf championships for a second year in a row. The North Course's 16th hole is the final par-3. CARLSBAD, Calif. — Jackson Koivun has job security down the road. The sophomore at Auburn finished tied for fourth Monday after the stroke-play portion at the 2025 NCAA Men's Golf Championship at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, and in the process he locked up his PGA Tour card via PGA Tour University Accelerated. The top-10 finish gave Koivun his 20th Accelerated point, enough to earn his card. He joins Gordon Sargent and Luke Clanton as the only players to earn their card via Accelerated. Koivun will defer his card until 2026 after his junior season. 'It feels good to go out and earn it by playing some golf, and what better place to do it than when you're surrounded by all your friends and teammates at the national championship,' Koivun said. 'I love Auburn, and I think college golf is in such a good spot right now. I feel like it's going to continually prepare me for the PGA Tour." Koivun's path to the PGA Tour started as a freshman, when he swept all the national postseason awards and helped guide the Tigers to their first national championship in school history. He has also made three cuts over the past year on Tour, coming at the 2024 Memorial Tournament, 2025 Farmers Insurance Open and 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational. This spring, Koivun was again a finalist for the Fred Haskins Award, the Heisman Trophy of college golf, and the Ben Hogan Award. He won his second consecutive SEC individual championship and then won the NCAA Auburn Regional before the T-4 finish at Omni La Costa, that coming on the heels of a T-2 finish at nationals as a freshman. Koivun and the Tigers earned the No. 2 seed in match play, where it will face Virginia in the quarterfinals Tuesday. He wasn't the only player to lock up PGA Tour playing privileges Monday, as North Carolina senior David Ford finished first in the PGA Tour University Class of 2025 rankings to earn his PGA Tour card, too.
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Why Auburn's Jackson Koivun would wait to turn pro if he earns PGA Tour card Monday
Why Auburn's Jackson Koivun would wait to turn pro if he earns PGA Tour card Monday Show Caption Hide Caption Drone flyover video of Omni La Costa North Course par-4 15th hole Omni La Costa is hosting the NCAA mens and womens golf championships for a second year in a row. The North Course's 15th hole is a challenging par 4. CARLSBAD, Calif. — Jackson Koivun can earn his PGA Tour card on Monday. If he did, he could play on the PGA Tour in two weeks as a full-time member. The sophomore at Auburn sits at 19 points in the PGA Tour University Accelerated, one away from earning a PGA Tour card. The caveat? Koivun is going to lock up that point in the next couple of weeks anyway. When he tees it up at the Arnold Palmer Cup next month at Congaree, he will have his PGA Tour card and be able to take up membership after his junior season. Or, he could finished in the top 10 at the 2025 NCAA Men's Golf Championship on Monday and lock up his card now, giving him the ability to turn pro after the championship, joining Luke Clanton and Gordon Sargent as college players turning pro thanks to PGA Tour U Accelerated. "I've been thinking about it a little bit," Koivun said. "I think it's definitely a little easier on the mind knowing that it's kind of already there, but it would be cool with the top 10 this week to finally get that. It's kind of been weighing on me for a while now, but at the end of the day, I know I'm going to get it and just trying to go play golf and try to represent Auburn." Koivun finished T-2 at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa last year, a fitting end to a dominant freshman campaign that saw him win the Fred Haskins Award, Ben Hogan Award and Jack Nicklaus Award. This year, he has three victories, including his second straight SEC Championship and the NCAA Auburn Regional on his home course. In the fall of 2023, Vanderbilt's Sargent earned his 20th point but deferred turning pro and returned for his senior season. Clanton didn't have a point in Accelerated a year ago but earned his 20th in February, making the cut at his hometown event in Florida. They'll both make their professional debuts in two weeks at the RBC Canadian Open. With a top 10 Sunday, Koivun would earn his card and be able to join Clanton and Sargent, but that's not the plan. "I'll be going back to Auburn," Koivun said Sunday after a 1-under 71 in the third round of the NCAA Championship, where he sits T-7 after the morning wave. The plan was always to return to Auburn, which he helped win its first national championship last year. After three rounds, the Tigers are in first and a virtual lock to make match play, which begins Tuesday. Koivun never wavered even as he racked up points and came close to securing his card. He said he spoke a bit with Clanton and Sargent about the pressure of chasing the card and accomplishing the feat like they did. "The easiest thing to do is just try to put it as far out of your mind as you can," he said. "This game is full of stress, and at the end of the day, anything we can do to take stress off of us and just go play freely is great." Come Monday, there could be a ceremony to celebrate his accomplishment. But his future is on the plains at least one more year, and Koivun and the Tigers' focus the rest of the week is on trying to go back-to-back.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Auburn golf star on precipice of earning PGA Tour Card
Auburn star Jackson Koivun got one step closer to a coveted PGA Tour Card last weekend. The sophomore, who has helped the Tigers earn back the No. 1 ranking with his play this season, made the cut at the 'Arnold Palmer Invitational', putting him one point away from earning a tour card. Koivun made the cut by shooting an even par over the first two days of the tournament, but failed to finish in the top 10 after a rough final two days against a field consisting of mostly seasoned PGA veterans. By making the cut, Auburn's top golfer secured his 19th point in the PGA TOUR University Accelerated program. Once he reaches 20, he will earn a card. Only two student athletes have ever achieved the elusive 20 points needed to gain access to most events on the tour. Florida State's Luke Clanton accumulated his 20th point earlier in the month, while Vanderbilt golfer, and Alabama native, Gordon Sargent was the first to ever accomplish the feat. Both golfers are upper-classmen and expected to turn professional after the season, while Koivun would be the first under-classmen to ever be faced with a decision whether to turn pro or stay in school. The 19-year-old has previously stated he'd like to stay at Auburn, although his thoughts could always change once turning professional becomes a realistic option. Until then, the reigning SEC Golfer of the Year will continue helping his Tiger teammates attempt to earn back-to-back National Championships. His next chance to earn a PGA Tour Card could come as early as the end of March. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn golf star on precipice of earning PGA Tour Card
USA Today
14-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Auburn golf star on precipice of earning PGA Tour Card
Auburn golf star on precipice of earning PGA Tour Card Auburn star Jackson Koivun got one step closer to a coveted PGA Tour Card last weekend. The sophomore, who has helped the Tigers earn back the No. 1 ranking with his play this season, made the cut at the 'Arnold Palmer Invitational', putting him one point away from earning a tour card. Koivun made the cut by shooting an even par over the first two days of the tournament, but failed to finish in the top 10 after a rough final two days against a field consisting of mostly seasoned PGA veterans. By making the cut, Auburn's top golfer secured his 19th point in the PGA TOUR University Accelerated program. Once he reaches 20, he will earn a card. Only two student athletes have ever achieved the elusive 20 points needed to gain access to most events on the tour. Florida State's Luke Clanton accumulated his 20th point earlier in the month, while Vanderbilt golfer, and Alabama native, Gordon Sargent was the first to ever accomplish the feat. Both golfers are upper-classmen and expected to turn professional after the season, while Koivun would be the first under-classmen to ever be faced with a decision whether to turn pro or stay in school. The 19-year-old has previously stated he'd like to stay at Auburn, although his thoughts could always change once turning professional becomes a realistic option. Until then, the reigning SEC Golfer of the Year will continue helping his Tiger teammates attempt to earn back-to-back National Championships. His next chance to earn a PGA Tour Card could come as early as the end of March. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter@TheRealBHauch
USA Today
09-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Amateur Jackson Koivun is one point away from his PGA Tour card. Here's when he'll likely earn it
Amateur Jackson Koivun is one point away from his PGA Tour card. Here's when he'll likely earn it Show Caption Hide Caption Jackson Koivun on whether he's inspired by what Luke Clanton has done Auburn sophomore Jackson Koivun talks about whether Luke Clanton earning his PGA Tour card has inspired Koivun in his pursuit of one. Auburn sophomore golfer Jackson Koivun finished 6-over par at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, earning valuable PGA Tour experience. Koivun is on the verge of earning his PGA Tour card through the PGA Tour University Accelerated program. The reigning college player of the year needs just one more eligible tournament appearance to reach the 20-point threshold for a Tour card. Jackson Koivun had to take two tests Saturday night before his final round at the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday. "Finance and kinesiology," Koivun said following his closing 75 at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. The sophomore at Auburn has learned plenty during a flurry of PGA Tour starts he has made dating to last summer. But in the middle of the school year, Koivun said time management is one of the biggest keys he has learned. The lone amateur in the field, Koivun made the cut after shooting matching even-par 72s during the first two rounds. That earned him his 19th point in PGA Tour University Accelerated, meaning a top 10 on the weekend would make him the latest amateur to earn their PGA Tour card via the Accelerated avenue. Koivun's time has to wait, however. He shot 75 on both weekend rounds and finished at 6 over for the week, though not a bad result for the 20-year-old who's the reigning college player of the year. "Obviously played pretty solid on Thursday, Friday, and the weekend kind of got to me," Koivun said. "Course got really tough, and I wasn't hitting it like I wanted to. But just trying to take notes, trying to learn everything I can so I can just soak up information from these guys." Koivun said he likely won't make another PGA Tour start until this summer, instead focusing on trying to help Auburn defend its national title. But Koivun doesn't need to worry about making another start on Tour because he's going to earn his card by this summer. Koivun had an exemption into the API thanks to his participation on the Arnold Palmer Cup team last summer. It's an event he's a virtual lock to represent the U.S. in again this summer, and doing so will net him two points and get him past the 20-point threshold, which rewards a PGA Tour card. Even if Koivun doesn't play the Palmer Cup, the world's secnod-ranked amateur is bound to be one of the United States' top players in September in the 2025 Walker Cup at Cypress Point in California. A Walker Cup appearance nets three Accelerated points, thus another avenue for Koivun to earn his card. Once he reaches 20 points, Koivun will join Vanderbilt senior Gordon Sargent and Florida State junior Luke Clanton as players to earn a card via Accelerated. Clanton, the top-ranked amateur in the world, did so last week after making the cut at the Cognizant Classic. Sargent earned his card as a junior and decided to return to school this year, and he'll turn pro after the college season. Clanton, though he hasn't publicly announced his plans, is likely to turn pro considering his PGA Tour success since last summer. For Koivun, he previously stated he would likely come back to Auburn for his junior year, even if he earned his card before that. His time to make that decision will come. For now, he has another week under his belt preparing for his future. "It's just one step closer," he said of his performance at Arnie's Place. "I'm very close. It's right in front of me. My time will come when I get that card and, yeah, it means a lot."
