'The whole package': After historic season, Jackson Koivun leads No. 1 Auburn to NCAAs

AUBURN, Ala. –  After splitting time last fall between the PGA Tour and Auburn’s autumn schedule, Jackson Koivun visited head coach Nick Clinard. 

“I think his head was spinning a lot in the fall, with everything that was going on, all the success he’s had,” Clinard said. “He came into the office in January and said, ‘You’re going to see a different me this semester.’ He’s proven his comments right.”

Koivun’s spring season is the stuff of legend. He’s played in nine events and won six of them. 

“He’s the most elite competitor and the most positive and optimistic player I’ve ever coached in 25 years,” Clinard said. “He expects good things to happen, he’s always talking himself up. He has internal optimism. It’s fun and joyful to coach him because of that.”

With fields averaging 75 golfers, the odds of the same golfer winning six of nine tournaments are approximately 1 in 2.2 billion. Unless that golfer is named Jackson Koivun. 

“I’ve got a really good mindset going in right now,” Koivun said before becoming the first golfer in six decades to win three consecutive SEC championships. “I’m excited to go out there and compete and try to win every event I can.”

Averaging 67.97 shots per round, Clinard says Koivun is “an incredible ball striker.” Former Auburn assistant coach Buddy Alexander, a 50-year veteran of college golf, says Jackson is the best putter he’s ever seen.

“I just love putting,” Koivun said. “I like practicing it. It’s been something I’ve been good at since I was young. It’s been one of my strong suits for a long time.”

Growing up in San Jose, California, Koivun graduated from high school while living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he was the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2023, a five-star prospect with scholarship offers from virtually every top college program.  

One unofficial visit to Auburn was all it took.

“I just knew it was home,” he said. “I will always call this place my home. I’m excited for the progression of where Auburn is going to be in 10 years. I think it’s the greatest school in the world. I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Not only is he a part of it, Koivun’s exploits – the program’s first NCAA title his freshman season, an SEC team championship, the individual SEC three-peat, a two-time Ben Hogan winner, Fred Haskins Award, Jack Nicklaus Award, No. 1 amateur in the world, Auburn’s career wins record and three top-10 PGA Tour finishes before his 21st birthday – have fans on social media making Jackson’s case for a place on Auburn’s Mount Rushmore alongside Bo Jackson, Charles Barkley and other legendary Tigers. 

“It’s an honor for people to think that,” he said. “There have been so many good athletes to come through this school and for people to notice that and put my name on that board, it’s pretty cool.”

When No. 1 Auburn tees off Friday at the NCAA Championship in Carlsbad, California, Koivun and Clinard will be side by side at the Omni La Costa Champions Course, hoping to lead the Tigers back to the top. 

“If I could put half the effort into my golf game that he puts into his job, I’m going to be very, very successful,” Koivun said of his head coach. “He works so hard and it’s inspiring to see that.”

After earning his PGA Tour card last season, Koivun could’ve turned pro. Instead, he remained on the Plains for what’s been a sensational junior season, setting the Auburn record and tying the SEC all-time mark with 11 career wins. 

Now comes a chance to defy the odds once more, chasing another championship on college golf’s biggest stage.

“I’m going to go out there and play well for Auburn and try to get us where we need to be and trust the guys behind me that they’re thinking the same thing,” Koivun said. “I know we have the firepower to win a national championship.”

“He’s special,” Clinard said. “He’s elite physically, he’s elite emotionally, he’s elite mentally. He’s got the whole package.”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer