오번 대학의 2학년 잭슨 코이분이 NCAA 챔피언십에서 PGA 투어 멤버십 자격을 획득했다. 스트로크 플레이에서 공동 4위로 마무리한 그는 PGA TOUR University Accelerated 프로그램의 20점 기준에 도달했다. 코이분은 즉시 투어 멤버십을 받아들일 수도 있지만, 주니어 시즌을 마친 뒤 전향할 계획을 밝혔다.
WAGR 2위로 평가받는 코이분은 이제 Accelerated를 통해 투어 자격을 얻은 3번째 선수가 되었다. 빈더빌트의 고든 사젠트와 플로리다 주립의 루크 클랜턴 다음이다. 두 선수는 다음 주 RBC 캐나다 오픈에서 프로 데뷔를 앞두고 있다.
골프로 직접 실력을 입증할 수 있어서 기쁩니다. 전국 챔피언십에서 모든 친구와 팀 동료들에게 둘러싸여 이 순간을 맞이할 수 있다는 게 더없이 좋습니다. 저는 오번을 사랑하고, 지금 대학 골프가 정말 좋은 상태에 있다고 생각해요. 대학이 저를 계속 PGA 투어에 준비시켜줄 거라고 믿습니다.잭슨 코이분
코이분의 프레시맨 시즌은 대학 골프 역사에 남을 시즌이 되었다. 그는 프레드 하스킨, 벤 호건, 잭 니클라우스, NCAA D-I 올해의 신인상을 한 시즌에 모두 획득한 첫 선수가 되었다. 지난해 NCAA 챔피언십에서 준우승한 뒤 매치플레이 3경기를 모두 승리로 이끌며 대학 골프 신인으로서의 입지를 확실히 했다.
캘리포니아 산호세 출신의 코이분은 아마추어와 프로 무대를 넘나들며 Accelerated 포인트를 쌓았다. 이 시즌 PGA 투어 2경기에 출전해 모두 컷을 통과했다(Arnold Palmer Invitational 공동 48위, Farmers Insurance Open 공동 56위). 특히 생일 3일 뒤에 20점 기준을 달성해 Accelerated 최연소 기록 보유자가 되었다.
오번에서의 2시즌 동안 코이분은 5개의 개인 타이틀을 획득했고, 소포모어 시즌 단일 시즌 최저 타수 평균 69.00으로 학교 기록을 경신했다. 올해 NCAA 챔피언십에서 오번은 2번 시드로 매치플레이에 진출했으며, 4강에서 버지니아와 맞설 예정이다.
NCAA 챔피언십 이후 코이분은 6월 5~7일 사우스캐롤라이나 콩가리 골프클럽에서 열리는 Arnold Palmer Cup에 미국팀 대표로 참가한다. 2년 연속 출전하는 그는 미국팀의 3연승 도전을 도울 준비를 하고 있다.
01Original (English) — PGA TOUR
CARLSBAD, Calif. – Auburn sophomore Jackson Koivun earned PGA TOUR membership on Monday at the NCAA Championship, finishing T4 in stroke play to earn the final point needed to reach the 20-point threshold in PGA TOUR University Accelerated.
Koivun, ranked No. 2 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, joins elite company, becoming only the third player to earn TOUR status through Accelerated, alongside Vanderbilt's Gordon Sargent and Florida State's Luke Clanton, who are set to make their professional debuts at next week's RBC Canadian Open. Koivun is eligible to accept TOUR membership immediately, or after his junior or senior seasons, and he confirmed on Monday that he will return to Auburn for the 2025-26 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 remarkable freshman campaign marked one of the most decorated seasons in collegiate golf history. The Auburn standout became the first player to win the Fred Haskins, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and NCAA D-I Outstanding Freshman awards all in the same season – a clean sweep that reflected his immediate impact and exceptional talent on the collegiate stage.
The San Jose, California native secured Accelerated points through a combination of high-level amateur play and impressive performances in professional events, including making the cut in both his TOUR starts this season (T48/Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, T56/Farmers Insurance Open). Koivun became the youngest player to earn PGA TOUR membership through PGA TOUR University Accelerated, reaching the 20-point benchmark just three days after his 20th birthday.
In just two seasons at Auburn, Koivun has claimed five individual titles and broke his own school record for single-season scoring average with an impressive 69.00 his sophomore season. At last year's NCAA Championship, he finished runner-up in stroke play and won all three of his matches to help lead the Tigers to the program's first national championship. Auburn will continue its title defense Tuesday at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa as the No. 2 seed in match play, as the Tigers will face-off against Virginia in the quarterfinals.
After the NCAA Championship, Koivun is set to represent the United States in the Arnold Palmer Cup for the second consecutive year, June 5-7 at Congaree Golf Club, located in Ridgeland, South Carolina. Koivun will look to help the U.S. team extend its winning streak to three straight victories against the International team.
Jackson Koivun's path to 20 PGA TOUR University Accelerated points
The PGA TOUR University Accelerated program was announced in November 2022 as a way for high-achieving underclassmen – juniors, sophomores or freshmen – to earn PGA TOUR membership. Players earn points based on their accomplishments in college, amateur and professional golf. If a player earns at least 20 points by the end of their third year of NCAA eligibility, they become eligible for TOUR membership.
Vanderbilt's Gordon Sargent was declared TOURBound in October 2023, becoming the first player to earn PGA TOUR membership via PGA TOUR University Accelerated. Sargent elected to return to Vanderbilt for his senior season, deferring his performance benefits from eclipsing the PGA TOUR University Accelerated 20-point threshold. Florida State's Luke Clanton followed as the second player to achieve this milestone, and upon turning professional in June 2025, Sargent and Clanton will have TOUR membership through the 2026 season.
PGA TOUR University Accelerated complements the PGA TOUR University Ranking, which annually provides the top 25 seniors with membership opportunities on PGA TOUR-affiliated tours. Koivun's PGA TOUR University Accelerated performance benefits closely resemble those earned by the No. 1 player in the final PGA TOUR University Ranking.
In May 2023, Texas Tech's Ludvig Åberg finished atop the PGA TOUR University Ranking, becoming the first player to earn PGA TOUR membership via PGA TOUR University. Stanford's Michael Thorbjornsen followed as the Class of 2024's top-ranked player, and North Carolina's David Ford finished No. 1 in the Class of 2025.
