Just months after competing in college golf, PGA TOUR University alumni Jackson Koivun, Tommy Morrison, and Michael Thorbjornsen are already celebrating professional victories, further highlighting the program’s role in helping elite collegiate golfers transition to the game’s highest levels.
Koivun, the former Auburn standout, won the 3M Open in just his third PGA TOUR start, finishing three shots ahead of World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Former Texas All-American Tommy Morrison captured the Korn Ferry Tour’s Evans Scholars Invitational in his fourth professional start, setting a tournament record at 29 under par. Thorbjornsen, a former Stanford standout and the 2024 PGA TOUR University No. 1 finisher, earned his first PGA TOUR victory at the Rocket Classic.
Although both reached the professional level through PGA TOUR University, they followed different paths.
Two Pathways to the Professional Ranks
The PGA TOUR University Ranking awards PGA TOUR membership to the top player in the final rankings, while players finishing Nos. 2 through 10 earn Korn Ferry Tour membership and those ranked Nos. 11 through 25 receive PGA TOUR Americas status.
Morrison secured Korn Ferry Tour membership after finishing No. 6 in the 2026 PGA TOUR University Ranking. He wasted little time taking advantage of that opportunity, recording finishes of tied for 10th, tied for fifth, second, and first in his first four starts before breaking through with a victory at the Evans Scholars Invitational.
The PGA TOUR University Accelerated program offers a separate route for elite underclassmen by awarding points for accomplishments in college, amateur, and professional competition. Players who reach the required point threshold earn PGA TOUR membership.
Koivun earned membership through PGA TOUR University Accelerated after one of the most decorated collegiate careers in recent history at Auburn. He turned professional following the 2026 U.S. Open and needed only three starts to capture his first PGA TOUR title at the 3M Open.
College Success Translates to the PGA TOUR
Koivun finished his Auburn career with an NCAA record 68.89 scoring average, 11 collegiate victories, two NCAA team championships, and became the first player to win the Haskins Award, Hogan Award, and Nicklaus Award twice.
Morrison concluded his Texas career with victories at the 2025 Amer Ari Invitational and the 2024 European Amateur Championship while also representing the United States at the 2025 Walker Cup and competing in The Open Championship.
Although collegiate success does not always translate directly to the professional level, Koivun and Morrison have demonstrated how elite college competition can prepare players for immediate success.
PGA TOUR University Alumni Continue to Win
As 2026 graduates, Koivun and Morrison are the latest PGA TOUR University alumni to find immediate success as professionals. Michael Thorbjornsen, who earned PGA TOUR membership after finishing No. 1 in the 2024 PGA TOUR University Ranking, also claimed his first PGA TOUR victory at the Rocket Classic this past weekend. Other alumni, including Johnny Keefer, Chandler Blanchet, Neal Shipley, and Austin Smotherman, have also earned PGA TOUR membership following successful seasons on the Korn Ferry Tour.
The recent victories by Koivun, Morrison, and Thorbjornsen highlight how PGA TOUR University continues to create a direct pathway from collegiate golf to professional success. At Championship Golf Network, it has been exciting to cover many of these players throughout their collegiate careers, elite amateur championships, and now as rookies competing at the professional level.
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