There was no doubt who Jackson Koivun wanted to face when Auburn took on Oklahoma State in the semifinals at the NCAA Championships on Tuesday night. Named the Haskins Award winner earlier in the day for the second time in three years, Koivun wanted a shot at the Cowboys’ Preston Stout, who won the individual NCAA title earlier in the week- the one thing the Auburn star hadn’t earned during his illustrious career.
Koivun made sure to remind Stout who the top amateur in golf was, defeating him 1UP on the 17th hole as the Tigers routed the Cowboys, 5-0, to advance and face UCLA for the national title on Wednesday.
“Today was great,” Koivun said. “To see our young guys step up and perform was awesome. I wish I was a little more help these past two matches, but I’m excited to go out there and play UCLA tomorrow.
“This is another chance at a national championship. It feels amazing. All year, it’s felt like we can do that again. We won in 2024, and that was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my life. To have a chance to grab that tomorrow, it feels great.”
Two freshmen have been clutch for No. 1 Auburn
Those young guys that Koivun mentioned are Jake Albert and Logan Reilly, who have looked like anything but freshmen during the tournament. After routing Stanford’s Ethan Gao 6&5 in the first match on Tuesday, Reilly poured it on Oklahoma State’s Eric Lee, winning the match 7&5.
Albert was no slouch himself, beating OSU’s Gaven Lane 1UP after defeating Stanford’s Dean Greyserman 2&1 earlier in the day.
“What Jake Albert did as a freshman and what Logan Reilly did as a freshman, these guys are just tough,” head coach Nick Clinard said. “I believe in them, our whole staff believes in them and their teammates believe in them.”
Now, the Tigers are 18 holes from their second national championship in three years. Only the Bruins stand in the way. If I were a betting man, I would put my money on Koivun and the gang to come out and get the job done.
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