CHAMPIONS: Auburn men’s golf claims second national title
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The Auburn men’s golf team won its first national championship in 2024 and it did not wait long to add a second to the trophy case.
The Tigers secured the 2026 national championship Wednesday evening in California, defeating UCLA 4-1 in a best-of-5 match play final.
Auburn becomes the first men’s golf program to win two national titles over a three-year span since Alabama won back-to-back championships in 2013-14. Auburn is now the 17th program with multiple titles.
Dominant season for Auburn golf
Auburn finished in the top two during eight of its final nine tournaments in the regular season.
The Tigers were the top-ranked team in the coaches poll in the three weeks leading up to the postseason. They earned the No. 1 seed for match play after finishing on top of the standings during the NCAA Championships stroke play.
In match play, Auburn dominated their opponents including:
- No. 15 Stanford: 3-1-1
- No. 5 Oklahoma State: 5-0
- No. 23 UCLA: 4-1
The Tigers secured the championship after Jackson Koivun won his match, leading by five holes with just three to go. Auburn won the first three matchups as the final two did not have to wrap up before the celebrations began.
Jackson Koivun caps off collegiate career
The Auburn junior is the top-ranked amateur golfer in the world and he (seemingly) wrapped up his collegiate career at the top of the sport.
Koivun’s career accomplishments now include:
- 2x national champion
- 3x SEC Golfer of the Year
- 3x SEC individual champion
- 3x PING First Team All-American
- 2x Ben Hogan Award winner
- Joins Jon Rahm, Ludvig Aberg as only golfers to win more than once
- 2x Fred Haskins Award winner
- Joins Phil Mickleson, Ben Crenshaw, Bobby Crampett as only golfers to win more than once
Koivun won 11 total tournaments as an individual, setting a new Auburn record.
