By making the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Friday, Auburn sophomore Jackson Koivun is one point from earning PGA Tour membership through PGA Tour University Accelerated.

The only amateur in the field, Koivun carded an even-par 72 in each of the first two rounds to advance. He shot three-over 75 in each of the weekend rounds to finish at 6 over for the tournament.

But by making the cut, Koivun earned one point in the PGA Tour University Accelerated initiative to raise his total to 19.

“A little stressful on the back nine,” Koivun said after Friday’s round. “Kind of scrapped it around. But was able to hang in there and put up a respectful number and get that 19th point, so it feels good.”

Through the program, a college freshman, sophomore or junior can earn PGA Tour membership and become eligible to play in open, full-field tour events by compiling 20 points by the end of his third year of NCAA eligibility. Golfers can earn points for performance and accolades.

When to begin his PGA Tour career is likely a decision that Koivun will have to make before his junior season at Auburn.

While Koivun has said he plans to concentrate on helping the Tigers defend their NCAA men’s championship this spring, the golfer probably doesn’t need another PGA Tour outing to get to 20 points.

Koivun had an exemption into the Arnold Palmer Invitational because he played on the United States entry in the Arnold Palmer Cup in 2024. That added two points to his total, and as the No. 2 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, he seems a prime candidate to play on the team and get another two points again in June.

After Thursday’s first round, Koivun said he was inclined to return to Auburn next season even if he earned the points needed for a PGA Tour card.

“I think there’s definitely some steps I need to take before I can come out here and compete with these guys week-in and week-out,” Koivun said. “So I think going back to Auburn and playing some college golf would definitely be helpful. …

“I feel like my game is definitely ready. I can come out here and compete. I think just adjusting and maturing mentally a little bit, with all the travel and just the lifestyle of the PGA Tour, I could use a couple more years at college.”

Two players have qualified for PGA Tour membership through the program, although neither has accepted his card yet.

Former Mountain Brook High School star Gordon Sargent earned PGA Tour membership through PGA Tour University Accelerated last year. He could have joined the tour in June 2024, but he deferred his membership for one year to spend another season at Vanderbilt.

Luke Clanton of Florida State reached 20 points with an 18th place finish in the Cognizant Classic last week. Clanton hasn’t declared his intentions.

The Arnold Palmer Invitational was Koivun’s fourth PGA Tour outing.

In June, Koivun finished 52nd at the Memorial and missed the cut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. In January, he finished 56th at the Farmers Insurance Open. Koivun finished tied for 48th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

“Definitely learning a lot,” Koivun said of his PGA Tour experience. “There’s so much to learn out here. You can learn a lot from how these guys play the game and just trying to take note of that — where to put your golf ball, where to be aggressive, where not to be aggressive. I mean, the pins out here, they get so close to the edges, and some spots you just can’t make up and down, so just knowing that and trying to hit it to the right spot of the green to give myself a good look.”

Koivun said his biggest takeaway from playing with the top pros was “just how good their short games are, really. It seems like they can make up and down from anywhere. And that’s definitely something I need to work on, kind of inside 100 yards. But they all hit the ball so well. I feel like I could throw myself up in there with how they hit it. But how they manage their games, knowing exactly where they want to hit it, being smart about that. And just even if they miss a shot, it feels like they’re having a good look to chip in or just have a kick-in par.”

Koivun did not play in Auburn’s victory at the Southern Highlands Collegiate March 2-4 in Las Vegas. The Tigers return to the course in the General Hackler Championship on March 16-18 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Auburn has four tournaments remaining before the SEC Championship on April 23-27 in St. Simons Island, Georgia.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.