PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Perhaps it’s fitting that as many of the best players in the world are set to tee it up at the Players Championship later this week, about a mile from TPC Sawgrass on Monday, the world’s best amateur was doing what he does best: winning.
Auburn junior Jackson Koivun captured his third collegiate victory in four starts this spring, rallying to claim medalist honors at The Hayt. Koivun fired a 5-under 67 at Sawgrass Country Club, birdieing the 54th and final hole to stamp his eighth collegiate victory. Trailing most of the final round, Koivun put together a bogey-free performance to outlast some of college golf’s best down the stretch, including world No. 2 Ben James, who co-led with 18 holes to play.
Advertisement
“I look at the leaderboard quite a bit,” Koivun said. “I just like to know where I’m at. I knew I probably needed to birdie 18. My playing partner (Seb Cave) and me were tied going to the last hole.”
Koivun’s tee shot ended up in the left rough. With 240 to the pin and afraid to hit a flier, Koivun decided to layup, hitting a perfect shot to near the front of the green. He pitched it to 3 feet and proceeded to knock in the birdie putt.
Earlier this spring, Koivun won the Amer Ari Invitational in historic fashion. Then he captured another title at the Gators Invitational.
Just last week, Koivun finished third at Southern Highlands. And after his latest victory at the Hayt, he has lost to only two players in four college starts this year.
Advertisement
“I just had a lot going through my mind in the fall,” Koivun said. “I feel like if I play good, I can beat anybody. It was definitely freeing to change my mindset going into the spring, and it’s really paying off.”
Koivun’s third victory also helped Auburn top Texas Tech by two shots to win the team competition. It’s the third victory of the year for the Tigers, the 2024 national champions.
For Koivun, the victory also puts him equarely in the driver’s seat to win the Fred Haskins Award, given to the collegiate Player of the Year. He won the award as a freshman, and if he were to win the trophy again, he would become only the fourth player to ever win two Haskins, joining Ben Crenshaw, Bobby Clampett and Phil Mickelson. He would also be the only one to win it not in consecutive years.
“I’d just be a huge honor,” Koivun said if he were to win the Haskins again. “Just doing my best to take it one tournament at a time, and hopefully those awards come soon.”
Advertisement
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: World No. 1 amateur Jackson Koivun earns third win of 2026 at The Hayt
Read the full article here
