Auburn celebrates golf championship: 'We're not going to stop'

After winning its second NCAA men's golf championship in three years, Auburn celebrated at Toomer's Corner on June 5, with hopes of making this an annual event even with all-time great Jackson Koivun joining the PGA Tour.

by Jeff Shearer
A group of golfers and staff pose on a stage holding a championship trophy, surrounded by confetti and a mascot, celebrating a national title.A group of golfers and staff pose on a stage holding a championship trophy, surrounded by confetti and a mascot, celebrating a national title.
Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

Toomer's time! Auburn men's golf celebrated its second NCAA title in three years

AUBURN, Ala. –  Wearing t-shirts and hats emblazoned with the words “National Champions,” junior Josiah Gilbert lifted the NCAA trophy while orange and blue streamers soared above the Auburn men’s golf team.

Toomer’s Corner, the boys are back in town.

Two days after winning their second national championship in three seasons in Carlsbad, California, Auburn returned to a heroes’ welcome with hundreds of fans attending the June 5 celebration.

“It shows that golf is important,” Auburn coach Nick Clinard said. “The support we have from donors and fans gives us the resources to compete. We’re very thankful. I’m thrilled for the kids. It’s about Auburn University and the Auburn family. It’s about these young men, their parents and families and all the sacrifices they’ve made to be here and compete at the highest level. We’re national champions.”

After rolling the oak trees, two-time national player of the year Jackson Koivun posed for pictures with fans.

“It means the world to me,” said Koivun, the SEC’s first three-time player of the year. “All the hard work we put in this entire year to win another national championship for Auburn, it’s so much fun. It’s so special, such a cool tradition to come out here and roll Toomer’s Corner. It means you did something great and the Auburn family appreciates you.”

A person wearing a “National Champions” shirt holds up a large roll of toilet paper while standing on a brick street with a crowd gathered around them under a bright blue sky.'It means the world': Jackson Koivun helped Auburn win two national championships before joining the PGA Tour

A week after the ceremony, Koivun announced that he’s joining the PGA Tour following his final amateur appearance in this weekend’s U.S. Open.

“He’s one of the best college players in the history of the game,” Clinard said.

“Auburn’s been so good to me,” Koivun said. “I’m truly happy that I can call myself a part of it.”

Koivun’s legacy at Auburn will endure, including his impact on teammates.

“He’s the best, his work ethic is crazy,” freshman Logan Reilly said. “It’s so easy to learn from him. He’s been a great mentor for me, to see how much work he puts in. I’ll remember him forever for sure and we’ll keep in touch.”

With Koivun turning professional, Auburn stands to return the rest of its championship lineup, including Reilly, who secured the NCAA title for the Tigers in No. 1 Auburn’s 4-1 triumph over No. 23 UCLA.

“It’s literally a dream come true. It was the best feeling ever,” Reilly said. “To have that 4-footer to clinch the national championship with the team all watching, everyone crowding around the green, it was unreal. Everyone ran onto the green and hugged, it was total shock.”

Reilly and SEC freshman of the year Jake Albert both went undefeated in NCAA Championship match play during Auburn’s run to the title.

“Seeing the young guys perform to that ability, it’s truly incredible,” Koivun said. “They put in so much work. I’m really happy for them and what they’re going to be able to do for the next couple years.”

A person wearing a “National Champions” cap and sunglasses with a crowd reflection speaks into a microphone outdoors.A reflection of their coach: Auburn's Nick Clinard salutes the 2025-26 Tigers: 'We got it done'

“We’re going to keep this thing rolling. I can promise you that.”

Nick ClinardAuburn coach

For the third straight year, Auburn entered postseason play as the national No. 1 seed.

 

“That’s what we strive for,” Clinard said. “We try to be the best. We’ve tried to keep improving and keep getting better, and we felt like we did that. We felt like we had the best unit when we got there and we played some great golf.”

After rallying to advance out of the NCAA Athens Regional, Auburn finished first in stroke play at the NCAA Championship for the first time in program history, earning the top seed in match play.

From there, Auburn knocked off Stanford in the quarterfinals, Oklahoma State in the semifinals and UCLA with a national title on the line.

“A lot of heart and a lot of grit,” said junior Cayden Pope, Auburn’s anchor in match play. “We knew we had a target on our back, coming in the No. 1 team in the country. We played like the No. 1 team in the country all week.”

“We all worked hard, we had one goal in mind,” Clinard said. “We put the work in every day from August till two days ago, and we got it done.”

Before flying back to the Plains, the Tigers celebrated with a steak dinner in Southern California, during which Auburn legend and avid golfer Charles Barkley called to offer his congratulations.

“They liked that more than they did winning the championship,” said Clinard, who spent time the following day recruiting.  

“We’re going to keep this thing rolling,” he told reporters at Toomer’s Corner. “I can promise you that.”

Minutes earlier, in his concluding remarks, Clinard said these summer celebrations could become the norm.

“We have created a dynasty,” he said. “We’re not going to stop.”

A NCAA National Champion trophy stands outdoors, surrounded by white streamers and trees with sunlight filtering through.'We have created a dynasty': Auburn men's golf has won NCAA championships in 2024 and 2026

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