FORT WORTH, Texas – Auburn men’s golfers Jackson Koivun and Brendan Valdes have been named top 10 semifinalists for the 2025 Ben Hogan Award presented by Baird, the Hogan Foundation announced Thursday.
The eight additional semifinalists are Josele Ballester (Arizona State), Luke Clanton (Florida State), David Ford (North Carolina), Ian Gilligan (Florida), Ben James (Virginia), Michael La Sasso (Ole Miss), Christiaan Maas (Texas) and Tommy Morrison (Texas).
Koivun is the reigning Hogan Award winner after becoming just the second freshman to receive the honor after Rickie Fowler (2008).
Since 2002, the Ben Hogan Award annually honors the top men's NCAA Division I, II or III, NAIA or NJCAA college golfer based on all collegiate, amateur and professional events over the previous 12 months. An esteemed selection committee votes during each stage of the process. The selection committee is comprised of more than 30 leaders in collegiate, amateur and professional golf.
Koivun continues to impress after a dazzling rookie season a year ago. The sophomore from Chapel Hill, North Carolina has finished in the top 10 in seven of 10 starts this year, including the last six in a row. He began the season with his third career victory at the Inverness Intercollegiate, shooting 9-under to seal the win by two. Koivun owns a 69.21 scoring average over 28 rounds played, 20 of which have come at par or better.
The other half of the Tigers’ one-two punch, Valdes, has cemented his legacy as one of the program’s best in his final season on The Plains. The senior from Orlando, Florida has already smashed the Auburn career records for top-10 finishes (23), subpar rounds (75) and rounds in the 60s (52). He also nears two more accolades as he needs 22 more birdies and four more eagles to become the all-time leader in both respective categories.
This season, Valdes averages 70.04 strokes per round over 28 rounds of competition. Of his 28 rounds, 19 have come at par or better. He’s picked up five top 10s, including an individual victory at the General Hackler Championship in March.
No. 2 Auburn is set to return to action next week, April 23-27, at the 2025 SEC Championship hosted by Seaside Golf Club on St. Simons Island, Georgia.