Ben James, Christiaan Maas and Jackson Koivun headline a loaded NCAA Regionals field with PGA TOUR, Korn Ferry and Americas cards at stake.
The PGA TOUR University Ranking is about to turn NCAA men’s golf postseason pressure into something even bigger than a national title chase.
With NCAA Regionals set for May 18-20, Virginia star Ben James and Texas standout Christiaan Maas are locked in a fascinating battle for the No. 1 spot, while Auburn’s Jackson Koivun waits as another massive storyline with PGA TOUR membership already within reach through PGA TOUR University Accelerated.
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James has been the man to catch all season. The Virginia senior sits No. 1 with a 1247.6266 points average and has finished inside the top five in all nine starts this season.
If he holds on, he’d join John Pak as the only player to go wire-to-wire at No. 1 in PGA TOUR University.
Maas, though, has made it a real fight. The Texas senior is just 25 points back at 1222.2092 after five top-three finishes, including a win.
He’ll have help in the Texas A&M Regional, where the Longhorns also bring Tommy Morrison at No. 4 and Luke Potter at No. 6. SMU’s William Sides, ranked No. 5, adds another major name to that field.
Koivun gives the Georgia Regional star power. Auburn’s three-time SEC Player of the Year has won six of his last eight college starts and just captured a third straight SEC individual title.
The stakes are simple and huge. The top five teams from each regional, plus the low individual not on an advancing team, move on to the NCAA Championship at Omni La Costa in Carlsbad, California.
After stroke play ends June 1, the final ranking becomes career-changing: No. 1 gets a PGA TOUR card, Nos. 2-10 earn Korn Ferry Tour status and Nos. 11-25 land PGA TOUR Americas membership.
That’s a lot more than college golf bragging rights.
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