Auburn Tigers Dominate at Mason Rudolph Championship

Reigning champions win second straight title, led by individual medalist Jackson Koivun

Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:04am

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The Auburn men's golf team captured the team title for the second consecutive year at the prestigious Mason Rudolph Championship, held at Vanderbilt Legends Club in Tennessee. Led by standout junior Jackson Koivun, who won the individual medalist honors, the Tigers finished the 54-hole event at 26-under par, a commanding 17-shot victory over runner-up Vanderbilt.

Why it matters

This win continues Auburn's strong start to the season and solidifies their status as the top-ranked team in college golf. The Tigers' depth and consistency were on full display, with all five starters finishing under par for the tournament. This performance should give them momentum heading into the SEC Championship and NCAA postseason.

The details

Auburn jumped out to an early lead on Friday and never looked back, finishing the weekend 26-under par as a team. Junior Jackson Koivun led the way individually, carding a 12-under par total to win his fourth tournament title of the season. Freshman Jake Albert also had a strong showing, tying for third place at 6-under par. The rest of Auburn's lineup - Josiah Gilbert, Logan Reilly, and Cayden Pope - all finished under par as well, demonstrating the team's impressive depth.

  • The Mason Rudolph Championship took place over Easter weekend (April 4-6, 2026).
  • This was Auburn's fourth team victory of the 2025-26 season.

The players

Jackson Koivun

A junior All-American for the Auburn Tigers, Koivun is the reigning Haskins Award winner as the top collegiate golfer. He has now won nine individual titles in his 35-start college career.

Nick Clinard

The head coach of the Auburn men's golf team, Clinard has led the Tigers to continued success, including this second straight Mason Rudolph Championship victory.

Jake Albert

A freshman on the Auburn team, Albert finished tied for third individually at the Mason Rudolph Championship, continuing his strong rookie campaign.

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What they’re saying

“The guys played fabulous all week. They really went out today in some difficult conditions with the wind coming out of the north and made a big statement. Just really proud of them, they're so together as one and they played some great golf this week.”

— Nick Clinard, Head Coach, Auburn Tigers

“Winning is in the DNA of this program. Every time we compete, we accept nothing less than that. I'm excited to get another one for myself but even more stoked for the team to be able to add another trophy to the trophy case when we get back home.”

— Jackson Koivun

What’s next

The Tigers will look to carry this momentum into the SEC Championship in May, where they will face off against top conference rivals like Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Ole Miss, all of whom they defeated at the Mason Rudolph event.

The takeaway

Auburn's dominant performance at the Mason Rudolph Championship underscores their status as the clear frontrunner in college golf this season. With a deep, talented roster led by superstar Jackson Koivun, the Tigers appear primed to defend their national championship and potentially achieve a rare repeat.