AUBURN, Ala. – Jackson Koivun, a rising junior on the Auburn men’s golf team, has officially qualified for the 2025 Walker Cup as the top-ranked amateur player in the world. Koivun will join the United States side for the event set for Sept. 6-7, 2025, at Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, California.
“It is a great honor to be selected as a part of Walker Cup,” Koivun said. “Playing for my country on a team of the best amateurs in the world is something I’ve made a goal of and looked forward to for the past few years. I’m humbled and beyond excited to get out to Cypress Point and represent Auburn and the United States of America.”
See you at Cypress Point 🌊
— Auburn Men's Golf (@AuburnMGolf) June 20, 2025
🔗 https://t.co/y1Oox11kf1#WarEagle | @USGA pic.twitter.com/ao4Uso5MBy
Joining Koivun on Team USA are Virginia’s Ben James and Ole Miss’ Michael LaSasso. Koivun follows Lee Williams (2003, 2005 – USA) and Blayne Barber (2011 – USA) as Auburn’s Walker Cup representatives. Tigers associate head coach Chris Williams also played for the 2011 American squad alongside Barber.
In just two seasons on The Plains, Koivun has pieced together one of the most prolific resumes in program history. With five wins and 22 top-10 finishes in 26 starts, he’s undeniably one of college golf’s brightest young stars.
As a freshman, the Chapel Hill, North Carolina product became the first man in the history of the sport to capture all three national player of the year awards (Haskins, Hogan, Nicklaus) and the national freshman of the year award (Mickelson) in the same season. He was voted SEC Freshman and Player of the Year as well as a First Team All-American.
In year two, he was just as dangerous, going back-to-back as the SEC’s low medalist, its first repeat winner in 49 years. He once again earned SEC Player of the Year honors and was named a finalist for each national player of the year award before capping the season with an encore performance as a First Team All-American.
The United States leads the Walker Cup 39-9-1 all-time. The Americans have been victorious in four consecutive cups, last winning the 2023 edition 14.5-11.5 at the Old Course at St. Andrews.
Nathan Smith, a three-time Walker Cup player and four-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, will captain Team USA this fall. Remaining Walker Cup team members will be announced in the coming months.