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 earned a Presidents Special Recognition from the GCAA, which goes to programs with a team grade point average of 3.5 or higher. The Commodores were the only team from the SEC to be selected for a Presidents Special Recognition.
Last week, William Moll, Matthew Riedel, Gordon Sargent, Cole Sherwood, and Jackson Van Paris were each named to the Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar team. All five were also selected to a GCAA Division I PING All-American team. It marks the first time in NCAA Division I history that a men’s golf program has had the same five golfers represented on both GCAA teams.
Nevins Collecting the Wins
Sophomore Chase Nevins captured his second tournament title of the summer last week, as he took medalist honors at the 49th Palmetto Amateur in Aiken, South Carolina. Nevins finished with a 72-hole score of 5-under 275. The Great Falls, Virginia, native made his move over the final two rounds of the play, as he carded 4-under 66 in Round 3 followed by a 2-under 68 performance in Round 4.
It is Nevins’ second-straight victory on the summer amateur circuit, as the sophomore claimed the title at last week’s Porter Cup, where he carded 11-under 269.
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