Award comes with major-event exemptions
Jackson Koivun’s already star-studded amateur career received another boost Wednesday.
The USGA announced that the junior golfer at Auburn University was the winner of the Mark H. McCormack Medal as the top male player in the 2025 World Amateur Golf Rankings.
The 20-year-old Koivun receives exemptions into next year’s 126th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills and the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.
“It’s a huge honor to win this award,” Koivun said in a release. “I’m very grateful to everyone who has helped me, and it’s a dream come true. It’s a medal every amateur golfer strives for. It’s in the back of everyone’s head, and you just try and fight and keep playing well. To be able to say I’m a McCormack Medal winner is just really, really cool.”
It’s just the next step in what has already been an exceptional start to his college career where he has been a first team All-American and won back-to-back SEC championships in his first two years at Auburn University. He led the Tigers to a national championship as a freshman and became the first man in the history of the sport to sweep all three national player of the year awards (Haskins, Hogan, Nicklaus) in addition to the national freshman of the year award (Mickelson).
After an outstanding sophomore season, Koivun became the third man to automatically earn PGA Tour status through the PGA Tour University Accelerated Program. He has deferred his membership at least until the completion of his third year of collegiate eligibility.
In six starts on the PGA Tour this calendar year, Koivun has made five cuts, including an active streak of three consecutive finishes inside the top 11. He delivered a career-best performance in early August at the Wyndham Championship, shooting 14-under-par to finish tied for fifth place.
In September, Koivun will become the third Auburn player to represent the United States at the Walker Cup, joining Lee Williams (2003, 2005) and Blayne Barber (2011). The 2025 edition is set for Sept. 6-7 at Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, California.
The Walker Cup will be a homecoming of sorts for the California-born Auburn University golfer.
“I grew up about an hour away from there,” he said. “I’ve played there a couple of times and it’s an unbelievable course. To be named a Walker Cup player is something I will never forget and is truly special. I’m looking forward to going and competing.”
Gregg Dewalt is the editor of Alabama Golf News
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Featured image of Jackson Koivun courtesy of Auburn Athletics
