Jackson Koivun secured his third consecutive SEC Championship title on Friday, becoming the first player in more than 50 years to achieve the feat. The 20-year-old Auburn University junior now tops DataGolf's all-time ranking of amateur golfers since 2010. His victory highlights a remarkable collegiate career filled with records and accolades.
Koivun's win at the 2026 SEC Championship propelled him to the top of DataGolf’s ranking, which measures collegiate players' skill using strokes gained data. His index of +3.25 surpasses Jon Rahm's by 0.09 shots and Jordan Spieth's by 0.14 shots. Patrick Cantlay ranks fourth on the list behind Spieth and Rahm in third and second place, respectively. DataGolf has tracked amateur golf data since 2010, placing Koivun ahead of these future professionals from the NCAA ranks. The victory marks Koivun's 10th at Auburn, making him the program's most successful player. He also holds the NCAA 36-hole scoring record at 25 under par, eclipsing a mark set by Tiger Woods three decades ago. Koivun contributed three points to a winning Walker Cup team and has posted a top-5 finish in nine PGA Tour starts. Through the PGA Tour University Accelerated program, he has secured future Tour status. Despite these achievements, Koivun has not advanced past the quarterfinals in major USGA events like the U.S. Junior Amateur or U.S. Amateur. Legends such as Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Phil Mickelson won those championships during their amateur careers. Koivun could pursue one more shot at such glory at the U.S. Amateur at Merion Golf Club in mid-August before potentially turning professional.
