Following a historic week in Hawaii filled with record-breaking performances, Auburn golf will look to replicate its success in Gainesville, Florida, at the Gator Invitational.
“A quick turnaround for us, but we’re excited for another chance to compete against some really stiff competition,” said men’s golf head coach Nick Clinard. “I have a ton of respect for what JC (Deacon) has done at Florida, so going head-to-head with a really strong Gators team on their home course, in addition to some other great programs, will only benefit us in our preparation for the postseason.”
The Gator Invitational will mark the Tigers' second tournament of the spring season and will feature 18 teams over the course of the two-day, three-round match this upcoming weekend.
Auburn enters the competition as the top-ranked team in the field following a stellar season-opening performance at the Amer Ari Invitational, where it shot 77-under for the weekend to tie the NCAA record.
Coming as a shock to few, Jackson Koivun led the team and tournament this past week with back-to-back rounds of –10 (62) to not only obliterate Auburn’s scoring record but also break the NCAA record previously held by Tiger Woods in the 1996 Pac-10 Championship. The exceptional junior only tallied one bogey throughout his 54-hole performance and was able to string together 24 birdies and an eagle in route to Auburn’s victory.
“It feels great to start the spring with a win individually and as a team," Koivun said. "We’ve all got some really big goals this season, so this is a great starting point to jump off from.”
This year’s success at the Amer Ari marked the first win for the program, but the Tigers know it will be far from their toughest battle despite facing many star-studded teams in Hawaii.
Much like the Amer Ari, Auburn will battle against 17 other schools in Gainesville, Florida, including highly touted rosters once again from Oklahoma State, the reigning NCAA champions, Notre Dame, Florida, and Charlotte.
The University of Florida will serve as the host school for their annual tournament held at their on-campus course. The Gators have found extreme success while playing at their home venue, standing atop the podium over 30 times, although 2026 may pan out differently compared to recent trends with the current caliber of competitors.
Although just a par 70, the Gator Invitational’s setting of Mark Bostik Golf Course has proved to be challenging in the past compared to recent sites the Tigers have visited as only four out of 14 teams finished the tournament in the red in 2025 with the leading individual score in last year’s contest was –8 shot by Ian Gilligan of Florida.
Live scoring for the Gator Invitational can be viewed at scoreboard.clippd.com.
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Will is a sophomore majoring in journalism. He started with The Plainsman in the spring of 2025.
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