Auburn star Jackson Koivun shines in U.S Open debut

A sensational two-year stretch for Auburn sophomore golfer Jackson Koivun continued this week. The two-time reigning SEC Golfer of the Year teed off at the US Open in Oakmont, Pennsylvania early Thursday morning, becoming the first Auburn Tiger to participate in the hardest major on the PGA Tour since Jason Dufner eight years ago.
Koivun, who has made the cut in all three PGA Tournament events he's played this year, is one of 15 amateur golfers in the field this weekend. He finished in a tie for third (+2) among all 15 in the field after the first round on Thursday, with only San Diego State's Justin Hastings (E) and Arizona sophomore Zach Pollo (E) ahead of him.
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The 20-year-old was agressive throughout the late morning and early afternoon on Thursday. Koivun's scorecard didn't feature a par until his sixth hole of the day, as the decorated Tiger began his round with a bogey on hole No. 10, followed by a pair of birdies, a bogey on hole No. 13, and another birdie on 14.
He settled in from there, playing even golf by making par on the final four holes of the back nine. Unfortunately a double-bogey on Koivun's first hole of the front nine dampened what was a spectacular first half performance for the young Tiger. A wild bunker shot halted his momentum, leading to just one birdie over Koivun's final 13 holes of play, and a +2 finish on the day.
With only 10 golfers in the entire field under par after the first 18 holes of action, Koivun's round one finish is not only very respectable, but puts him in position to possibly tee off alongside PGA Tour veterans like Ludvig Åberg, Xander Schauffele, and Keegan Bradley, who all hover around the sophomore on the day one leaderboard.
If Koivun can replicate or improve upon his day one scorecard, he will likely make his fourth consecutive PGA Tour cut with the projected line hovering around five strokes over par after the first day of action at Oakmont Country Club.
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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn golf: Jackson Koivun shines in U.S Open debut

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