Auburn's Brendan Valdes Wins General James Hackler Championship, Strengthens Hold on No. 2 in PGA TOUR University Ranking

Auburn’s Brendan Valdes secured his third collegiate victory at the General James Hackler Championship, held from March 16-18. This achievement marked his second consecutive top-five finish in as many weeks, further solidifying his position in the PGA TOUR University Ranking. With this win, Valdes has closed the gap on the No. 1 spot, now trailing North Carolina’s David Ford by less than one point.

Valdes delivered an outstanding final-round performance, shooting a 7-under 65. His game was highlighted by an eagle on the 15th hole and a birdie on the 16th, ultimately securing a one-stroke victory over Duke’s Ethan Evans. Louisville’s Sebastian Moss, ranked No. 10, tied for third place and re-entered the ranking’s top 10. Sharing third place with Moss was Auburn’s Jackson Koivun, currently ranked as the No. 2 amateur in the world. Koivun remains just one point away from earning his PGA TOUR card through the PGA TOUR University Accelerated program.

Wake Forest’s Scotty Kennon also saw a ranking boost following his T7 finish at the General James Hackler Championship, propelling him to No. 25. This marks Kennon’s return to the top 25 since early February, supported by two consecutive top-10 finishes.

Meanwhile, Florida’s Ian Gilligan and LSU’s Algot Kleen made significant strides in their rankings following strong performances in separate events. Gilligan secured his second runner-up finish of the spring at the Schenkel Invitational, coming just one stroke behind his teammate, Luke Poulter. Kleen delivered his best performance of 2025 at the Pauma Valley Invitational, narrowly missing a playoff due to a bogey on his final hole, which allowed Texas’ Christiaan Maas to claim victory.

The Pauma Valley Invitational also featured Arizona State’s Jose Luis Ballester Barrio and Preston Summerhays, ranked No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. However, both players dropped one spot in the rankings.

In addition, David Ford, the current No. 1 player in the PGA TOUR University Ranking, claimed victory at the Valspar Collegiate (March 24-25). His win earned him an exemption into the 2026 Valspar Championship on the PGA TOUR, a significant milestone that will be reflected in the next ranking update.

PGA TOUR University Ranking (Week 12/2025)

1. David Ford (North Carolina) - 1119.3113 points (22 events)

2. Brendan Valdes (Auburn) - 1118.8023 points (21 events)

3. Ian Gilligan (Florida) - 1051.2625 points (20 events)

4. Jose Luis Ballester Barrio (Arizona State) - 1042.8505 points (22 events)

5. Preston Summerhays (Arizona State) - 1023.8504 points (23 events)

6. Jackson Van Paris (Vanderbilt) - 1015.7872 points (18 events)

7. Jackson Buchanan (Illinois) - 991.4752 points (23 events)

8. Omar Morales (UCLA) - 971.2881 points (22 events)

9. Algot Kleen (LSU) - 969.1460 points (20 events)

10. Sebastian Moss (Louisville) - 962.4421 points (19 events)

As the PGA TOUR University season progresses, these rankings continue to shift, highlighting the fierce competition among the top collegiate golfers. With Valdes’ recent victory, the battle for the No. 1 spot remains closer than ever, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the season.