Latest news with #SECGolferoftheYear
USA Today
2 days 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
24-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Auburn golf has solid showing in opening round of NCAA Championships
Auburn golf has solid showing in opening round of NCAA Championships Brendan Valdes, Jackson Koivun, and company finished their opening rounds a collective 2-under par at Omni La Costa. The Auburn golf team may not have flashed the dominance it did in the Regional Round of the NCAA Tournament, but the Tigers started their bid for back-to-back NCAA Championships in solid fashion on Friday. Brendan Valdes, Jackson Koivun, and company finished their opening rounds a collective 2-under par at Omni La Costa in Carlsbad, California. The score placed the Tigers within the top five programs on the leaderboard entering the weekend. Valdes (-3) was the best Tiger of the opening round, as the senior from Orlando was a magician with his putter throughout the day, knocking home 5 birdie putts on his way to a team-best 69 scorecard. Jackson Koivun was nearly as impressive, but an unfortunate double bogey on the par-4 No. 15 hole, a hole which Valdes birdied, spoiled an otherwise great round for the sophomore. Fellow sophomore Josiah Gilbert finished with the same score (-1) as Koivun, albeit in much calmer fashion. While the SEC Golfer of the Year's scorecard, specifically on the back nine, lit up like a Christmas tree thanks to 5 birdies, 2 bogeys, and a double bogey, Gilbert simply hum-hoed his way to 15 pars. After an uncharacteristic bogey on the par-5 No. 2 hole, Gilbert finished his round with 2 birdies and 14 pars on his final 16 holes. Freshman Cayden Pope (+5) and redshirt senior Carson Bacha (+3) did not fair nearly as well in their opening rounds. Pope, who was the first Tiger to tee off on Friday, managed just 2 birdies in an attempt to offset 4 bogeys and a double bogey. Bacha, who notoriously starts his tournaments slow, didn't manage a single birdie during his round which featured 15 pars and 3 bogeys. The Tigers collective score of 2-under par put them in a tie for fifth place on the leaderboard with a a pair of other teams. Oklahoma (-8) led the way after day one, while last year's national runner-up Florida State (-3), finished in a tie for second place with Florida and Texas. Arizona State and Illinois finished tied with Auburn at 2-under par. Friday's result put Auburn in prime position to reach Monday's final round of group play, where the top 15 teams on the leaderboard will battle it out for the final eight spots in the Quarterfinal Match Play round on Tuesday. 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
15-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Auburn golf dominates field in Regional Round
Auburn golf dominates field in Regional Round The defending National Champion Auburn Tigers officially put the college golf world on notice after the Regional Round of the NCAA Tournament this week. Hosting the Auburn Regional as the No. 1 overall seed, the Tigers trounced the field all week, ending the three-day event 32 strokes under par, 27 strokes ahead of second place Texas A&M. Four of the five Auburn golfers in the Regional finished within the top five on the individual leaderboard, with SEC Golfer of the Year Jackson Koivun taking home the individual crown with a 12 under par showing. UCLA's Omar Morales and Kennesaw State's Claes Borregaard finished in a tie for second in front of three Tigers. Redshirt senior Carson Bacha (-7), sophomore Josiah Gilbert (-5), and senior Branden Valdes (-5) finished in third, fifth, and fifth, respectively. Gilbert's final day impact was perhaps the most important for an Auburn team looking to maintain a large lead, as the senior holed in a round-best seven birdies to finish 6-under par on the day. The Tigers (-32) and the second place Aggies (-5) were the only squads to finish the regional round under par, while UCLA (+6), Purdue (+9), and Georgia Tech (+10) were able to do just enough to keep their championship hopes alive. No. 24 ranked SMU, who came into the Regional Round hoping to make a deep run into spring, missed the cut at 15 strokes over par. Next up for the Jackson Koivun and company will be the final rounds of the NCAA Championship, which will once again be held at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California. The festivities begin with a three days of stroke play from May 23-May 25. The top 15 teams from the 30 entering the final round will continue play into Monday, where the top eight will enter Tuesday's Quarterfinal Round. Omni La Costa Resort & Spa will crown a champion on Wednesday, May 28. Florida State, who Auburn defeated to claim the 2024 Championship, finished its regional with the second best scorecard, at 29 strokes under par. SEC rival Florida, who Auburn would love to get some revenge on after the men's basketball tournament, finished its regional with an equally impressive 28 strokes under par showing. 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
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
