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USA Today
7 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Auburn star earns PGA Tour Card after sensational sophomore season
Auburn star earns PGA Tour Card after sensational sophomore season Jackson Koivun is now in elite company. Although Auburn couldn't quite get over the hump to repeat as the National Champions this golf season, the Tigers best golfer, sophomore Jackson Koivun, ended his extraordinary season with a coveted piece of hardware. The two-time SEC Golfer of the Year finished in fourth place overall during the stroke play portion of the NCAA Championships, giving him more than enough points to surpass the 20 total needed to acquire a PGA Tour Card through the PGA Tour University Accelerated program. The program, which is designed to award juniors who accumulate 20 points through played events during their first three years of college golf, was finished by Koivun in just two seasons. Now with immediate eligibility to play PGA Tour events, the 20-year-old could choose to end his Tigers career after just two short years if he opts to become a professional. But Koivun, who has vocally pronounced his love for the Plains in the past, recently told Golfweek he would delay defer his card until 2026, again stating "he loves Auburn" before stating how he believes college golf "is in such a good spot right now and it's going to continually prepare [him] for the PGA Tour." Koivun is now the third collegiate golfer to earn his PGA Card through the accelerated program. Alabama native and former Vanderbilt star Gordon Sargent and former Florida State golfer Luke Clanton are the only other golfers to successfully finish the program. 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
4 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
UNC golfer and National Player of the Year earns PGA Tour Card
UNC golfer and National Player of the Year earns PGA Tour Card UNC adds another name to the PGA Tour roster this week as David Ford received his PGA TOUR Card on Tuesday. Ford will join Davis Love III, Tom Scherrer, Mark Wilson, and Pat Moore as Tar Heel representatives on the Tour. Ford has been a dynamic golfer for most of his life, winning the Junior Players Championship and Rolex Tournament of Champions before even joining the Tar Heel family. Once he arrived at college, Ford was an instant success. In his first year, he was the No. 1 player on the Rolex AJGA and Golfweek junior rankings, winning ACC Freshman of the Year in 2022, followed by ACC Player of the Year in 2023. He won the 2022 Southern Amateur and 2023 Jones Cup Invitational. He made his first PGA Tour start at the 2023 Barbasol Championship, where he even made the cut after the first two rounds. This season, Ford walked away with the Haskins Award as the NCAA National Player of the Year. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan had this to say: "Officially welcoming Luke, Gordon, and David to the PGA TOUR family marks the beginning of an exciting journey for three rising stars — and further underscores why this is the most competitive Tour in the world. PGA TOUR University is one of several direct pathways to the top of our sport, and we're committed to continuing to reward the highest achievers in college golf for years to come.' Ford certainly still has his best years to come and will get the opportunity to play in many PGA Tour events in the future. Earning his Tour Card now gives him a ticket to play on the highest level of professional golf in North America. The amateur is no longer an amateur; now, he is a professional and represents North Carolina proudly. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
Khaleej Times
18-03-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Golf star Rayhan Thomas proud to sign up as Dubai Basketball ambassador
Dubai-born Rayhan Thomas, who now plays on the PGA Tour's Korn Ferry Tour in the U.S., has signed on as an ambassador for Dubai Basketball, a professional basketball team based in Dubai that competes in the ABA League (American Basketball Association). Thomas, 25, who turned professional on June 1st, 2024, and holds full card status for the 2025 season, is excited to support Dubai Basketball, a team he's closely connected to through sponsorships and personal relationships. 'My target for this year is to make the Top 20 of the Korn Ferry Tour by the end of 2025 to earn my 2026 PGA Tour Card privileges,' Thomas told Khaleej Times. 'Dubai Basketball is in the ABA League, and I have relationships with the senior management and ownership at Dubai Basketball. They are one of my key sponsors and supporters. I am always happy to help Dubai Basketball – I am a remote supporter so far, but I will support and attend whenever and wherever I can.' 'I carry their Dubai Basketball logo on my left sleeve and am proud to be a fan of this initiative, aligned with a sports team based in Dubai. They have the Dubai franchise in this ABA League and currently stand in fourth place,' he added. Thomas, who is also an ambassador for Dubai Creek Resort and Dubai Golf, first took up golf through the Emirates Golf Federation's Junior Development Programme (JDP) at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. He later honed his skills with enhanced coaching at the CH3 Performance Institute at The Els Club, under the guidance of Claude Harmon III and Justin Parsons. Justin, now an Elite Golf Instructor at the Sea Island Golf Performance Centre in Georgia, coaches several top players, including Louis Oosthuizen, Brian Harman, and Harris English. After six tournaments on the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour, Thomas sits in 42nd place, with three cuts made, one Top 10 finish, and one Top 25 finish. The Dubai Basketball Team recently beat Partizan Mozzart 80–72 and currently sits in fourth place after 23 matches, with the most recent match played last Tuesday. The next fixture for Dubai Basketball is against FMB Soccerbet at the Coca-Cola Arena on Saturday, March 29th, 2025, with an 8:00 pm tip-off. For more information, visit:
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
