Auburn golfer Jackson Koivun named ASWA Amateur Athlete of the Year

Listing the accolades Jackson Koivun has collected during his three-year run at Auburn University might be a shorter task than naming the ones he hasn't. The 21-year-old junior has cemented his status as a college golf icon, recently guiding the Tigers to their second NCAA team championship in three years.

A Record-Breaking Resume

Koivun's trophy case is crowded. A two-time national champion, he has twice claimed SEC Player of the Year honors along with back-to-back Ben Hogan and Haskins Awards. His dominance on the conference level is absolute, having secured three straight SEC individual championships. In 2025, his excellence was further recognized when he received the Mark H. McCormack Medal for finishing the season as the No. 1 ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

His impact has drawn national attention. In April, Golf.com profiled Koivun as potentially the greatest amateur of his generation, placing him in a class above recent luminaries like Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay, and Jon Rahm.

ASWA Amateur Athlete of the Year

These accomplishments have made him the clear choice for the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Amateur Athlete of the Year for 2025-26. Koivun dominated the voting, earning nearly triple the first-place votes of his closest competitor.

Auburn head coach Nick Clinard attributes this success to Koivun's relentless approach. "The guy competes on every shot," Clinard said. "He’s extremely focused, he’s extremely driven. He has an achiever mindset—he doesn’t take a shot off, ever." Clinard added that he considers Koivun one of the best athletes to ever represent Auburn, noting that the "record speaks for itself."

Unmatched Performance on the Course

Koivun’s greatness was on full display in February at the Amer Indi Invitational in Hawaii. He fired back-to-back rounds of 62, shattering the long-standing NCAA 36-hole record set by Tiger Woods in 1996. His 54-hole total of 25-under par also eclipsed the previous Auburn school record by seven shots.

While he tied for 10th during the stroke play portion of the most recent NCAA championships, Koivun found another gear during match play. He defeated NCAA individual champion and World No. 3 Preston Stout in the semifinals and remained undefeated throughout the championship round against UCLA’s Baylor Larrabee.

The Path Ahead

Reflecting on his tenure on the Plains, Koivun called his college career "perfect." Having already secured his PGA Tour card through the University Accelerated Program, his focus shifts to the professional ranks. He is set to compete in the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills this Father’s Day weekend.

With his amateur career concluding on such a high note, Koivun is setting his sights on global dominance. "Honestly, I want to be the No. 1 player in the world," he stated. "It’s a pretty lofty goal, but I feel like if I work hard enough and play like I know how I can play, I can definitely accomplish it."

The ASWA convention is presented by ALFA Insurance, the Mobile Sports Authority, the Panini Senior Bowl, the Paul W. Bryant Museum, the Alabama High School Athletic Association and Jacksonville State University.