NASHVILLE, Tenn. – PGA TOUR University announced Wednesday that Vanderbilt men’s golf senior Jackson Van Paris opens the 2024-24 season at No. 5 in the preseason rankings for the Class of 2025.
Van Paris is coming off a breakout junior campaign that saw him score his first collegiate victory and post seven top-20 finishes. The Pinehurst, North Carolina, native won stroke play at the inaugural St Andrews Links Collegiate this past October with a two-round total of 9-under 13. Van Paris made his PGA Tour debut at the 2024 Puerto Rico Open in March, finishing in a tie for 10th. He went a perfect 3-0-0 in match play at the 2024 SEC Championship, posted four top-10 finishes, and held a scoring average of 70.67 during the 2023-24 season.
The PGA TOUR University Ranking does not include Vanderbilt senior Gordon Sargent, currently the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world, because he already secured his PGA TOUR card via PGA TOUR Accelerated. Upon the conclusion of his senior season in May 2025, Sargent will have PGA TOUR membership for the remainder of the 2025 season and through 2026 – the same performance benefits as the player who finishes No. 1 in the PGA TOUR University Class of 2025.
In partnership with the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), PGA TOUR University ranks players based on the last two years of their collegiate careers. Eligible Tournaments include NCAA Division-I men’s team competitions, official PGA TOUR tournaments and select DP World Tour events. The Ranking Period for the Class of 2025 began Week 23/2023 and concludes May 26, 2025, following the final round of stroke play at the NCAA D-I Men’s National Championship.
The No. 1 player in the final PGA TOUR University Ranking next May will earn PGA TOUR membership, while players Nos. 2-5 (fully exempt) and Nos. 6-10 (conditional) will earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for 2025. Additionally, players Nos. 6-25 will earn fully exempt membership for the North America Swing of PGA TOUR Americas in 2025.
Last season, the Commodores had three golfers finish inside the top 10 of the PGA TOUR University rankings to earn pro status. Matthew Riedel finished fourth, while William Moll and Cole Sherwood finished sixth and seventh, respectively.
Vanderbilt Wins GCAA Team Academic Award
The Vanderbilt men’s golf team earned a Golf Coaches Association of America Outstanding Team Academic Award, as announced on Tuesday by the organization.
Vanderbilt was one of 59 NCAA Division I schools that…
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