Jackson Koivun Explained

Jackson Koivun
Birth Date:23 May 2005
Birth Place:San Jose, California, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in
Residence:Auburn, Alabama, U.S.
College:Auburn University
Status:Amateur
Award1:SEC Freshman of the Year
Year1:2024
Award2:SEC Player of the Year
Year2:2024
Award3:Ben Hogan Award
Year3:2024
Award4:Haskins Award
Year4:2024
Award5:Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award
Year5:2024
Award6:Jack Nicklaus Award
Year6:2024

Jackson Koivun (born May 23, 2005) is an American amateur golfer. He is currently attending Auburn University, where he as a freshman had one of the best seasons in collegiate golf history. In 2024, he won the SEC Championship, was runner-up at the NCAA Division I Men's Individual Championship, and became the first player ever to sweep all four major collegiate awards in the same season, the Haskins Award, Jack Nicklaus Award, Ben Hogan Award and Phil Mickelson Award.[1]

Early life

Koivun was born on May 23, 2005, in San Jose, California and grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.[2] [3] He learned golf from his father George at a young age, and says he beat his dad for the first time when he was seven.[4]

Amateur career

In AJGA events, Koivun lost a playoff in 2021 and won the 2022 Rolex Tournament of Champions. He won the 2022 Junior Presidents Cup with the U.S. national team.

Koivun was the top ranked recruit in the class of 2023.[5] [6] He enrolled at Auburn University and started playing with he Auburn Tigers men's golf team, where he as a freshman in 2024 he recorded one of the best seasons in collegiate golf history. He won the SEC Championship by six shots and only finished outside the top-six once in 13 starts, and had the lowest adjusted scoring average (67.3) in the NCAA.[7] He finished in a tie for second at the 2024 NCAA Division I Men's Individual Championship, and led the Auburn team to win the national title, the first in program history.[8]

He was 7–0 in matchplay over the season, leading Auburn to 10 tournament victories, and was named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year. He became the first player to win all four major collegiate awards, the Haskins Award, Jack Nicklaus Award, Ben Hogan Award and Phil Mickelson Award, in the same season.[1]

Koivun made his PGA Tour debut in the 2024 Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village, having earned a spot through winning the Jack Nicklaus Award. He made the cut and earned his 15th point in the PGA Tour University Accelerated Program, five points shy of the 20-points that will earn him a PGA Tour card and join Gordon Sargent, the first golfer to reach the threshold.[9]

Following his freshman season with Auburn University, Koivun was the third-ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, behind Gordon Sargent, and Christo Lamprecht.[10]

Amateur wins

Source:[11]

U.S. national team appearances

2022 (winners)

2024 (winners)

Source:[11]

Notes and References

  1. Jourdan . Cameron . Auburn's Jackson Koivun wins Nicklaus Award, is first to sweep college golf postseason honors . June 12, 2024 . Golfweek . June 3, 2024.
  2. Web site: Jackson Koivun - Men's Golf 2023-24 . 2024-08-29 . Auburn Tigers Athletics.
  3. Web site: 2024-05-21 . Auburn Freshman Wins Ben Hogan Award . 2024-08-29 . Fort Worth Inc..
  4. Kulasingham . Joel . 12 Things You Didn't Know About Jackson Koivun . June 12, 2024 . Golf Monthly . June 6, 2024.
  5. News: Cole . Adam . 2024-05-13 . 'He knows what it takes': Freshman phenom Jackson Koivun wasting no time with Auburn golf . 2024-08-29 . Opelika-Auburn News.
  6. Web site: Koivun wins Nicklaus Award, earns spot in The Memorial . 2024-08-29 . 247Sports . Jason . Caldwell . June 3, 2024.
  7. Did we just see the best season by a freshman in men’s college golf history? . 2024-08-29 . Golf Digest . Dave . Shedloski . June 8, 2024.
  8. Leighfield . Jonny . Brutal Break Costs Auburn Freshman Jackson Koivun Chance At NCAA Men's Individual Championship Title And A Trip To The Masters . June 12, 2024 . Golf Monthly . May 28, 2024.
  9. Web site: Hodowanic . Paul . Auburn freshman Jackson Koivun makes cut at the Memorial in PGA Tour debut, one step closer to earning card . PGA Tour . 12 June 2024.
  10. News: Romine . Brentley . How Auburn rising sophomore Jackson Koivun could have a PGA Tour card by next summer . June 12, 2024 . NBC Sports . June 8, 2024.
  11. Web site: Jackson Koivun . World Amateur Golf Ranking . August 29, 2024.