AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn men’s golf will be well-represented this week on the PGA Tour as rising junior Jackson Koivun and outgoing senior Brendan Valdes both earned sponsor exemptions into the John Deere Classic set for July 3-7 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois.
Auburn alums Patton Kizzire (2008) and Trace Crowe (2019) are also in the field this week.
Valdes tees off first at 8:57 a.m. CT. Kizzire goes off at 1 p.m. CT, followed by Crowe at 1:44 p.m. CT and Koivun at 2:06 p.m. CT. Koivun will go off 1, while the others will begin play off 10.
This will be Koivun’s sixth Tour event in the last year. He’s made three cuts in his previous five starts. His best finish came in March at the API Invitational at Bay Hill, where he shot 6-over to finish tied for 48th.
Outside of a pair of U.S. Opens, this will be Valdes’ first appearance on the PGA Tour. He made his first cut as a professional two weeks ago on the Korn Ferry Tour’s BCBS of Kansas Wichita Open. He shot 9-under and finished tied for 13th overall.
Coverage of the 2025 John Deere Classic begins Thursday, July 3 at 3 p.m. CT on Golf Channel.