Auburn freshman wins Ben Hogan Award for excellence in college golf

Jackson Koivun, a freshman on the Auburn University golf team, faced stiff competition Monday evening from his two fellow finalists at the presentation of the Ben Hogan Award, which honors the best men’s college golfer based on performances in collegiate, amateur and professional events over the last year.

Georgia Tech senior Christo Lamprecht won the 2023 Amateur and sits atop the World Amateur Golf Ranking, and Vanderbilt junior Gordon Sargent is second in the amateur ranking and last year became the first player to earn his PGA Tour card through the Tour’s new University Accelerated program.

But just as Koivun has done all season for the Tigers, he rose to the top.

At a ceremony at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, Koivun became the second freshman to win the award in its 34-history and the first player from Auburn.

In his 12 NCAA starts this season, Koivun won twice, including the SEC Individual Championship, and finished in the top-10 all but once. He leads his team in scoring average (69.25), rounds below par (26) and birdies made (164). Last summer, he advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills, in Denver, losing to eventual champion Nick Dunlap.

Previous recipients of the Hogan Award have won a combined 66 PGA Tour titles and more than $400 million in Tour prize money. Ludvig Åberg won the honor in both 2022 and ’23; other past winners include Viktor Hovland (2019), Jon Rahm (2015 and ’16), Patrick Cantlay (2012) and Rickie Fowler (2008).  

When Koivun was announced as the winner Monday evening, he came to the podium and said, “Wow, I think if you could feel my heartbeat sitting in that chair over there, you’d probably think I have a health problem.”

Koivun thanked his parents, coaches, teammates and swing coach, Fred Garcia. He also offered a word of gratitude to his fellow finalists.

“Y’all make college golf so good,” he said. “It’s guys like you who make kids in junior golf really want to get better and play against y’all.”

Koivun will be back in Fort Worth this time next year. As the Hogan winner, he received an exemption into the 2025 Charles Schwab Challenge, which is contested at Colonial Country Club.

You can watch the Hogan Award ceremony here.