Interview
CGN+ Player Highlight and Interview: Joe MacPherson’s Breakthrough Junior Season at Old Dominion
Old Dominion junior Joe MacPherson has taken a significant step forward during the 2026 to 2027 college golf season, highlighted by his first collegiate victory at the Ironwood Collegiate Classic.
The Aberlady, Scotland, native shared medalist honors at eight under par, 208, becoming the first Old Dominion men’s golfer to win an individual tournament since Jakob Henriksson captured the Golden Horseshoe Intercollegiate in March 2021.
After competing in eight tournaments across his first two collegiate seasons, MacPherson has recorded his first career top five finish, multiple rounds in the 60s and three fall top 30 finishes.
Career Highlights
- Co-medalist at the 2026 Ironwood Collegiate Classic at eight under par, 208
- First collegiate victory and first career top five finish
- First Old Dominion men’s individual tournament winner since March 2021
- Recorded rounds of 69, 66 and 73 at the Ironwood Collegiate Classic
- Tied for 17th at the 2026 Golfweek Fall Challenge
- Tied for 26th at the 2026 ODU/OBX Intercollegiate
- Won the 2026 Boyd Quaich Memorial Tournament
- Won the 2026 Junior Tour Tain
- Earned 2025 to 2026 CSC Academic All-District recognition
- Earned GCAA All-America Scholar honors
- Recorded a 3.86 cumulative GPA as reported by Old Dominion in June 2026
Collegiate Results Snapshot
2026 to 2027 Junior Season | Old Dominion
Ironwood Collegiate Classic
- Tied for first at eight under par, 208
- Recorded rounds of 69, 66 and 73
- Made five birdies and an eagle on the par four 12th hole during the opening round
- Recorded seven birdies and one bogey in the second round
- Helped Old Dominion tie for third in the team standings
Other Fall Results
- Golfweek Fall Challenge: T17
- Florida Atlantic Invitational: T36
- ODU/OBX Intercollegiate: T26, rounds of 75, 68 and 73
2025 to 2026 Sophomore Season | Old Dominion
- Competed in six tournaments and 18 rounds
- Recorded a 75.72 scoring average
- Tied for 24th at the Irish Creek Collegiate at five over par, 218
- Closed the Irish Creek Collegiate with a one under 70
- Finished T43 at the ODU/OBX Intercollegiate
- Finished T76 at the Elon Phoenix Invitational
2024 to 2025 Freshman Season | Old Dominion
- Appeared in two tournaments and six rounds
- Recorded a 75.83 scoring average
- Made his collegiate debut at the ODU/OBX Intercollegiate, finishing T41
- Finished T74 at the Cutter Creek Intercollegiate
Joe MacPherson Interview Highlights with CGN+
Growing up in Scotland
MacPherson grew up in Aberlady, Scotland, near courses including Muirfield and The Renaissance Club. His father introduced him to golf and supported his participation in junior tournaments throughout Scotland.
Competing regularly in cold, windy and wet conditions helped him develop patience and learn to manage difficult rounds.
Choosing Old Dominion
MacPherson began considering college golf in the United States around age 13 or 14 after watching older Scottish players pursue NCAA opportunities.
He later worked with Stuart Hemings at USbound during recruitment and visited Old Dominion while competing in North Carolina.
MacPherson valued the coaching staff, campus facilities and the program’s emphasis on academic performance when making his college decision.
Adjusting to collegiate golf
MacPherson described the transition from Scotland to the United States as an adjustment both academically and socially.
He credited freshman roommate James Paige, who is from England, with helping him adapt to college life.
On the course, MacPherson recalled feeling nervous during his first team qualifiers while competing against experienced upperclassmen.
Progress during his freshman and sophomore seasons
MacPherson appeared in two tournaments as a freshman before increasing his participation to six during his sophomore season.
His best sophomore result came at the Irish Creek Collegiate, where he tied for 24th and closed with a one under 70.
Following the season, he evaluated his performances and identified areas he wanted to improve before returning for his junior year.
Summer success before his junior season
MacPherson returned to Scotland during the summer of 2026 and won the Boyd Quaich Memorial Tournament and Junior Tour Tain.
He explained that focusing on individual shots and rounds, rather than monitoring his position on the leaderboard, helped him compete more effectively.
Those victories followed the adjustments he made after reviewing his sophomore season.
Breakthrough victory at Ironwood
MacPherson earned his first collegiate victory at the Ironwood Collegiate Classic with rounds of 69, 66 and 73.
His second round 66 included seven birdies and one bogey. He finished the tournament at eight under par to share medalist honors.
During the interview, MacPherson explained that earlier rounds in the 60s had increased his confidence, but maintaining that level across all three rounds remained an important challenge.
The Ironwood performance marked his first career top five finish and Old Dominion’s first men’s individual tournament victory in more than five years.
Academic achievements at Old Dominion
MacPherson is pursuing a degree in Economics and has earned recognition for his academic performance.
He received CSC Academic All-District and GCAA All-America Scholar honors for the 2025 to 2026 academic year. Old Dominion reported that he held a 3.86 cumulative GPA in June 2026.
During his interview, MacPherson emphasized that a program’s commitment to academics was an important consideration throughout his recruitment.
Continuing his junior season
MacPherson followed his Ironwood victory with a tied for 26th finish at the ODU/OBX Intercollegiate, including a second round 68.
His fall results demonstrate improvement from his first two seasons, with a collegiate victory and additional competitive finishes as he continues his third year at Old Dominion.
