USC’s Jackson Rivera Named To All-Pac-12 Men’s Golf Second Team, All-Freshman Team

Men’s Golf | May 04, 2022

Jackson Rivera, who led USC in eight of 11 events while posting a pair of top 6 finishes and six in the top 21 in one of the Trojans’ best freshman seasons, was selected to the 2022 All-Pac-12 Second Team and named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team, the conference announced Wednesday (May 4).

Rivera, coming off of a tie for sixth at the Pac-12 Championships at par 284 (73-68-74-69), boasts a team-best stroke average of 71.88, currently inside USC’s all-time top 25 season chart. He has also not finished outside the top 36 in any event this season.

“We are so proud and happy for Jackson,” USC Coach J.T. Higgins said.  “He had one of the most impressive freshman seasons in school history and is so deserving of every award and accolade he receives.  That said, I believe he is only scratching the surface of his capabilities and his future will only be brighter.”

Rivera, who also tied for sixth at the Valspar Collegiate at 9-under 204 (66-68-70), has a team-best eight rounds in the 60s and leads the team with 20 rounds of par or better, including 17 under par.

He posted rounds of 65 and 63 at the Arizona N.I.T., the latter being USC’s first 63 since Kaito Onishi in November of 2017 and the Trojans’ first 9-under effort since Rico Hoey earlier that year in February.

Rivera led USC all golfers during the fall season, getting off to a fantastic freshman start that saw three top 18 finishes and four in the top 28. He was Troy’s top finisher in each event and led the Trojans in stroke average at 71.58.  In fact, Rivera was the first Trojan to lead the men in each fall event since All-American Justin Suh did it in 2017.